Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-19
10000 Americans
lahore Last Evacuee
Ship 10 Stay in Orient
japan Is Impressed
As U. 5. Carries Through
Its Removal Policy
BY A. r. STEELE,


Chicago Daily News Correspondent.
SHANGHAI, Nov 19.-More than
10000 Americans will still be left
sitting on the Far Eastern finder
box when the last special evacuation
liner, sent here by the United States
Government, steams out of Shanghai
harbor tomorrow. Those who re-
main are staying by their own
choice. The United States had dis
charged it's obligations. The way
has now been cleared for a more
positive American policy in the Pa
ciflc should the situation warrant.
The steamship Washington, sail
ing tomorrow. will carry $50 fearful
evacuees, mostly women and chill
dren. 1t is picking up $50 more at
Manila. American consular officials
estimate that with the departure of
the Washington. the total number of
Americans who have withdrawn
from the Far Eastern danger zone
since the Governments evacuation
warning was issued, will be well over
1000.
Hundreds more are planning to re-
turn home on regular trans-Pacific
ships which are booked to capacity
for several months to come. 1t must
be noted that three special ships
dispatched to the Orient by the
American Government have re-
turned without a full load. yet the
Governments evacuation move must
be adjudged successful and strong
policy.
Japan Impressed.
Despite the flippancy with which
JapanS press and offlcialdom has
treated the evacuation, there is not
the slightest doubt that the Japan
csc government was deeply i'm
pressed by the significance Of the
American action. 1t showed the
japanese with Earring certainty
that the United States was no
longer blufing. 1t enabled the
United States to take from the
Japanese the initiative, in the Pa
cific sparring match, which Toxic
had just seized through signing the
alliance with the axis.
I perceive new Japanese serious
ness in the attitude of army and
navy people here. Their objective
is unchanged but they will certain
ly ponder more carefully every
move they make. The fact that the
majority of the Americans in
Japan, China and Indo- China are
still sitting tight is no indication
that they take the situation lightly.
Most of those with whom I have
talked feel that unless there is a
wholly unexpected reversal Of Jap
anese policy, or a serious setback
for the axis in Europe, an eventual
Japanese American war will be the
probability.
Not Believed Imminent.
However, not many think the
showdown is imminent. Americans,
in general, believe that they still
have some months Of leeway Their
confidence is predicated on the sup
position that Japan will not Sc
riously risk war with the United
States until one or more Of the
following things happens:
l. The axis shows clearer proof
of its ability to win in Europe {
2. The United States becomes in
volved in war with Germany.
8. Russia concludes a rapproche-
ment with Japan.
4. Jpan gets much farther along
on it's preparations for a full-dress
conflict
5. Japan extricates itself from
China.
The largest American exodus has
been from Shanghai, from which
400 Americans, one-third the en-
tire American community, have de-
parted. Other evacuees have come
in about equal numbers from Japan,
Korea, North China and Hong Kong.
The withdrawal of only a couple
of hundred of Japan's several thou
sand Americans was a surprise, but
| it must be remembered that more
than half of Japan's American COM
munity is of the Japanese race. The
majority of all the Far Eastern
evacuees are the wives and children
of consular officials, naval officers
and corporation employees.
So far there has been virtually
no abandonment by American bust
ness houses and missions of their
enormous interests in this country,
which doubtless is disappointment
to the japanese. American bust
ness continues where it is possible
and missionaries in general are re-
naming at their posts, although
many are evacuating their families.
A WEST COAST CANADIAN
PORT, Nov. 10 canadian Press
passed by CENSOR More than 300
American and British refugees-in-
Guiding IS children-arrived at this
port late yesterday aboard a trans
Pacific liner from the Orient.
"She was just great big floating
nursery" one of the officers said of
the vessel which carried 400 pas
sengers-largest number in its his
tory.
Biggest group aboard consisted of
68 wives and children Of the en-
ployes of the British-American To-
bacco Co. in China.
Mrs L. D. Glover of North Caro-
lima said she was sorry to leave. ut