Evening star., 1940-09-29
Many Other Weapon,
Could Be Added 10
japanese Embargo
Eioht War Materials
Besides Steel Scrap
Included in List
By the Associated Press.

6y inc AssOCiateu fIeSS.
The broadening of President
Roosevelt's embargo against ship
ments of steel scrap to Japan left
him with plenty of other trade
weapons he might use In the Far
Eastern dispute without asking Con-
gress for more authority.
Just as easily as he wrote the
proclamation banning exports of
steel scrap to any save the Western
Hemisphere nations and Great
Britain, Mr.. Roosevelt could:
Slap down an embargo against at
least eight other kinds of materials
experts say Japan is buying for war
uses.
Or, put new duties on, or prohibit,
any or all imports of japanese goods
on the ground that, as this Govern
ment has frequently complained to
Japan, illegal and discriminatory
restrictions have been created
against American trade.
The latest embargo by the Presi-
dent and the fresh loan to China
came right behind what may well
have been a restatement of Ameri-
can policy.
Speech BY McNutt.
Paul V. McNutt, speaking not as
Security Administrator but as for
mer High Commissioner to the
Philippines, delivered a speech at
New England Town Hall at Boston
the night before the new embargo
His speech had been gone over
carefully by the State Department
beforehand.
In it, he described the sale of
American junk to Japan to be con-
verted into sleek men of war.
And he concluded:
THE people of the United States
and the Government of the United
States sympathize with nations that
are wantonly attacked. 1t is the
inclination Of the people of the
United States and the Government
of the United States to give legiti-
mate assistance to those who being
wantonly attacked become 'oppo-
nents of force.
1T is sound policy to give such as
sistance. In the giving of it, we are,
by aiding those who oppose wanton
use Of force, contributing to the es-
tablishment of our own security.
Called Sound Policy.
This holds good not alone in re-
lationShipS with Europe. 1t holds
-
holds good also in regard to the
Far East. 1t is this country's tradi-
tional policy. 1t is this country'S
present policy. 1t is sound policy.
and its soundness is coming every
day into clearer and clearer per-
spective"
Only developments can determine
whether and to what extent any
new weapons will be brought to bear
in the Far East But the weapons
are keen and double edged as is
reflected by these two facts:
Month in and month out, Japan
regularly shows up at the foreign
trade wickets as Americas third
best customer.
Similarly, and more to Japan's ad-
vantage, the United States, in
variably. even in these days of less
than normal relations. buys more
of Japan's silks, crabmeat, tea, por-
celain and other goods than does
any other nation.
For many months, strong pressure
organizations have urged that the
United States swing into action
with these weapons. One of the
most active of such organizations
is the American Committee for Nom
Participation in Japanese Aggres-
sion. which numbers among its
prominent members William Allen
White, Henry I. Hartman and
many others. Henry L. Stimson
was its honorary chairman until
he returned to Government service
as Secretary of War. He could
hardly keep such private connec-
ton so he quit the committee.
Tugs Away From Action.
But there are. and have been.
almost equally strong tugs away
from such action. Japan used al
most half a million bales of Ameri-
can cotton in the first seven months
of 1910. Most of. Americas silk
comes from Japan. And the argu-
ment is often used that what hap
pens in the Far East is little Of
Americas business.
Not until June of this year did
Congress take official notice of the
vast quantities of war materials
that were flowing 10 Japan for use
in China, though several measures
had been pending in committees.
One of the early defense bills.
however, gave the President author
ity to curtail the expectation of
goods that might be used for war.
During July, he issued two procla-
nations requiring licenses for list
Of goods which were put in this
class.
These included:
Arms and ammunition.
Aluminium, antimony, manganese,
rubber, tin, tungsten. platinum,
wool, certain rare metals used for
steel alloys. and cotton linters which
are the best material for smokeleS
powder.
Various chemicals including nj
trates
Aircraft parts. armor plate and
optical instruments.
Metal working machinery.
Aviation motor fuel or its max
ings
Aviation lubricating oil.
The best grades of heavy melting
steel scrap.
Obtainable without Licenses.
Students OF Japans trade with
the United States say, however. 1t
can still get from this country with
out license such goods as:
Pig iron, wrought iron and other
forms of raw material. including
alloys for iron and steel produc-
tion: finished steel. copper, lead