The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-10-09
Capital Breakfasts Word
Government Ready to
Meet Crisis
HIGHWAY OPENING MAY
TOUCH OFF POWDER KEG
United States Chokes Stream
of Vital Supplies
to Orient
ny International News Service,

fRy International News servicel
Washington. Oct. 9 --INS-The
United States government steadily
increased economic pressures
against Japan today and braced
the nation for a showdown in the
Far East.
From a government. taut and
sensitive to the movement of every
international shadow. word was
broadcast that this country Is
ready to meet any eventuality.
No attempt was made TO hide a
belief that Great Britain's sche-
duled reopening Of the Burma
Road. the vital supply artery into
China on October II might touch
off the Oriental powder key. Al
the same time this government
was placed squarely in support of
this move by the reiterated words
OF Secretary OF State Hull.
Hostile Act
japanese officials were on re-
cord with warnings that reopen
ing of the Burma Road would be
viewed by their government as an
hostile act. The newly frightened
Japanese-German-Italian alliance
has freely declared action against
any one point of the axis might
bring the concerted action of all
three against the offender.
In the face OF this ominous ar
ray OF circumstances. the United
States pursued a firm and appar-
emily relentless course of chs king
the stream OF vital supplies from :
American shores TO the Orient.
New aud broader moves were
limited as top.ranking government
officials surveyed the critical situ-
alton In the Pacific during con-
ferences held behind tightly clos
ed doors.
Remove Americans
Parallelling these steps, tho
work Of clearing all possible AM
orleans out OF the Far East got
underway at the state department.
President studded maps" with
commanders OF the nations sea
forces, and even removal OF the
handful OF American marines in
the affected areas was given con-
sideration.
Unehsllenged
Dispatches from Tokyo attribut-
ing 10 japanese sources the view
that British action In reopening
the Burma Road, closed three
months ago. represented a COM
mon U. S.-British front went UNI
challenged in official circles here.
No efforts were made to discount
the words OF British Ambassad Jr
Lord Lothian. uttered after an
hours conference with President
Roosevelt. referring TO "the APP
preaching Far Eastern crisis"
Bulwarking the stiffening AM
erican attitude apparently In de-
fiance OF Japan, the navy's fleet
commander in chief, Admiral
James o. Richardson. said after
a talk with the President that he
was returning 10 Hawaii with sey.,
eral thousand men," and added
they we're badly needed.
Physical moves viewed here as
directed specifically against the
japanese were climaxed with
state-agriculture department ac-
ton suspending shipments OF sub
sidized wheat and wheat flour TO
Oriental ports that might be con-
troIled by the Japanese, This sub
sidy, originally established to aid
the American farmer in disposins
Of wheat, had given the Orient a
price 30 cents bushel below the
world average.
simultaneously. discussion OF
possible tightening OF restrictions
on oil shipments 10 the Orient was
renewed in government circles.
Some officials pointed out that
under the bread law for strength
thening national defense passed
by Congress July 2. President
Roosevelt could order a virtual
blanket embargo on all exports
10 the japanese. Full support was
indicated In official quarters, too,
for the warnings against t0tali-
tartan propaganda issued in Man
liza by Francis b. Sayre, y. s. High
Commissioner to the Philippines.