Evening star., 1940-09-29
Mai. Eliot Argues for ForcefuI
Ang|o-U. S. Policy in Far East
Now Is Time to Stop japan. He Holds,
Citing Strength Of Cooperation

the Netherland Indies. she may find
the japanese in Siam, on the FROM
tiers of Burma and Malaga. find
Singapore surrounded and cut of
Australia menaced: while if she does
take strong steps-as strong as pos
Sible-to prevent these things. she
may find herself unable to preserve
her vital positions around the Suez
Canal, which depend so largely for
reinforcements on the resources of
the British possessions around the
shores of the Indian Ocean.
But as the clever Herr Won Rib
bentrop enjoys hearty chuckle at
the dilemma which he has presented
to the English-speaking nations, he
might continue a little farther the
rather short-sighted line of reason
ing which has led him 10 these con-
clusions. For what the United States
might not do alone. what Great
Britain might not do alone. they can
do together: and very far from hav-
ing driven them farther apart. as
the axis leaders probably hoped
the announcement OF the new pact
has made much closer Anglo Ameri-
can cooperate not only impera-
tive but inevitable.
= Take . the military. situation in
Great Britain first of all. as the key
piece on which all else, at least for
the moment, depends: The basic fact
here is that the Germans have COM
pletely and signallv failed to over
come or even to diminish the fight
ing power. offensive and defensive,
of the Royal Air Force. and that
having failed to do So and being ut
terly inferior in naval power. an at
tempt at invasion would be simply
suicidal. This means that while these
conditions endure. as they seem like
ly to endure, Great Britain will still
be able to maintain the blockade of
the German outlets to the sea and of
the German-held portions of the con-
tinent. The British home fleet will
still have base. and remain in be-
ing. 1t is true that our assistance
will contribute to the endurance Of
this state of affairs, but the assist
ance does not seem likely. for the
coming winter. to be needed other
than in the form of additional air.
planes. certain munitions and sup
plies. and probably above all else in
cooperation in the training of pilots
and other flying personnel-this is,
on the basis of late information. The
greatest British need for the imne-
dlate future. 1t is hardly necessary
to say that We should make avail
able. and increase as may be :equi-
site, facilities in Texas. and other
good-weather flying localities for this
purpose.
Axis Can't Aid Japan.
In the Far East we have one men,
ber of the new triumvirate which
is cut of from any possible contact
with the others save by the tortuous
route Of the Trans Siberian Rail-
way. This nation. Japan, is now en-
gagged in a war on the continent OF
Asia which has already lasted three
years and seems likely to 60 on still
longer if the Chinese can be aided by
arms and credits. The economic
and financial structure of Japan is
dependent almost entirely on its for
elgn trade. There is nothing at all
that Germany and Italy can do to
help Japan if Japan is suddenly
confronted with serious crisis. On
the other hand, if Japan il allowed
to wax and grow fat at others ex-
pense, while China goes down. ia
pan will always be a menace and a
check on us and on the British: for
the short-sighted Herr Won Ribben-
trop has been unable to perceive that
the Britain he is fighting is moi lit
tie England" but a worldwide en-
pire
Let us take hypothetical case of
Anglo-American cooperation in the
Far East, and observe what the two
powers can do together, though
neither could do it singly:
Am absolute embargo on all
trade with Japan is simultaneously
pronounced by the United States
and the nations of the British COM
monWealth. This cuts of prac-
tically the whole of Japan's trade
outside the. Yen bloc"-that is. the
whole OF her foreign exchange: it
stops almost all her imports of ma
terials useful for the prosecution of
war; it confronts her great business
houses with imminent ruin; it sets
a definite time limit on any mill
tary operations she may conduct,
within which she must achieve over
whelming victory or acknowledge
defeat.
2.-The Burma road is reopened
by Great Britain, and British di-
visions in Burma are moved to the
Siamese frontier. Australian troops
are dispatched to Burma and Ma
laya. At the same time British and
American economic pressure de-
velops against Siam-and the Brit
ish empire takes 5/6 of Slams ex-
ports. while the United States takes
q of the remainder. Observe that
this. like the first proposition. can
not be done by either country alone
Siam might fear the Japanese on
the east more than the British on
the west, did not the United States