Evening star., 1940-09-28
U. 5. Is Responsible
For Axis Treaty,
japanese Assert
Toxic Forced to Take
Sides, Highly Placed
Source Declares
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
TOXIC, Sept. 28.-Japanese re-
action to the new Rome-Berlin-
Toxic pact crystallized today In the
view that the United States was
mainly responsible for conclusion
of the treaty through consistent
and unfaiung opposition to Japan
ese policies in the last nine years.
I'm short" highly placed Japan
ese told the Associated Press, the
attitude of the United States forced
Japan to take sides. We have done
So"
"Japan's friendship need never
have been alienated," he declared,
particularly since America has
neither economic nor strategic con-
siderations of any Importance in the
Far East. We were unable to under
stand Americas concern over areas
Of the world where Americas
interests hardly exist"
Attack" to Be Defined.
This source said private con-
versations between former Foreign
Minister Hachiro Arita and United
States Ambassador Joseph C. Grew
before the fall of the Yonai govern
ment last July constituted the last
attempt" to resolve American
Japanese problems on that basis.
In reponse to a question whether
the economic pressure of the United
States embargo on scrap metal
could be considered an attack un-
der article three of the new pact.
Yakichiro Suma. Foreign ONCE
spokesman, told japanese reporters
a more exact definition of the word
"attack" would be made.
Article three binds the three pow
ers to support each other with eco
nomic. political and military means
when one of the three contract
ing powers is attacked by a power
at present not involved in the Eu-
ropean war or the Chinese-Japanese
conflict"
In regard to Soviet Russia, Suma
said significantly, the imperial gov
ernment intends to adjust its re-
lations to all nations. Russia Is
closely related to this treaty"
Rapprochement Effort Seen.
Qualified sources, asserting ia
pans primary problem now is to
bring Russia into the framework of
the new agreement. predicted Japan
would make an immediate effort at
a rapprochement to safeguard her
western boundaries. German help
S1INh ct IN wi
OF the Importance to Germany Of the
trans-Siberian channel of trade.
Official japanese quarters declined
TO elaborate on article five of the
tri-poWer pact which states that the
status OF agreements of any of the
signatory parties with Russia is to
remain unchanged
This provision was interpreted un-
officially. however. as implying that
Germany would not assist Japan in
the event of Russian japanese
clash, because OF the previous
existence of the Russian-German
non-aggression pact
Japan currently is aligned with
Germany, Italy and Spain in the
anti-cornintern pact.
Emperor Hirohito and Foreign
Minister Yosuke Matsuoka informed
the world that the new treaty did
not mean Japan was going to enter
the European war or pick a fight
with anybody. Both said it empha-
sized the nations determination to
complete her self-proclaimed mis-
sion of ESTABLISHING = "rreater East
Asia" by peaceable means.
The japanese public received news
Of the pact quietly while the press
discussed it widely.
we doubt that America now is
prepared TO participate in a war,
confronting as she does the exist
Ing situation both in the Atlantic
and the Pacific" said the influential
newspaper Yomiuri The treaty
will serve as silent power on the
United States future course Of
action"