Evening star., 1940-09-28

theoretical. Impulsively and with
out much thought of the conse-
ouences. the American people ap-
proved the sending of aid short OF
war" to Britain. but did not count
on HitlerS counterattack-the 10
year alliance of Italy and Germany
with Japan.
The alliance means that Japan
has entered the European war and
that overnight she can make a sud-
den attack on the United States
arguing that whatever aid we give
Britain prompts Japan to give mill
tary aid to Germany as against the
United States.
Potential Enemy.
Formal declarations of war are
no longer in style. What the Amer
lean people face now is situation
in which America has potential
opponent in the Far East who is
In alliance with Britain'S enemy
Whatever sympathy there has been
for the British cause in Europe ano
which was hitherto translated into
economic cooperation and the dis
patch of over-age destroyers, now
becomes concretely subject to Jap
anese appraisal Of whether it con-
stitutes an attack on Germany OF
her interests.
Could the Roosevelt adminiStra-
ton have prevented the COnSumma-
Ta oil 20
Our policy has been to refrain from
applying embargoeS for long while
but We have recently imposed an
embargo on aviation gasoline which
is vital to Japan's air force. The
japanese military party promptly
urged, with popular support. that
Japan must get her oil by seizing
the Dutch East Indies. The civilian
and liberal elements in Japan have
hoped the United States would
strengthen their hand by not play
ing into the hands of the Nazis
The hope has been that tentative
commercial agreement would super
cede the commercial treaty abro-
gated last January.
But for some reason not dis
closed-the whole thing has beer
carried on through secret diplomacy
the Roosevelt administration has
pursued an aggressive policy. 1t is
a mystery why this has been done
when the plain object of the Nazis
has been to keep the American fleet
busy or preoccupied, at least, in the
Pacific so it would be of no use in
the Atlantic as a help to Britain
Materials Vital to Japan.
If America is ready to go to war
with Japan, then the policy pursued
Is logical. If America is unable to
fight Japan without British naval
aid in the Pacific-and this latter
point is now a doubtful quantity
then aggressive diplomacy was a
mistake. The Congress is not con-
suited on these matters, as we have
a one-man government today and
no advice is asked of the people S
representatives. The American peO-
pie are asked to ratify the acts OF
their Chief Executive after he has
involved the Nation beyond a point
from which there might be an hon.
orable modification CT policy.
Realistic public opinion in Japan
and the United States can still avert
war if America is not bent on de-
Tending China or the Dutch East
Indies. But if American youth is tc
be asked to go to war to defend
interests 5000 miles away, on the
ground that important raw ma
terials are at stake, then it may be
said in criticism of the administra-
ton that it has not prepared the
way for its policy.
Raw materials are vital to Amer
lea but not so vital as they are tc
Japan. A reciprocal exchange OF
important commodities is all that is
needed to assure the status quo in
the Far East. Japan is interested
only in her war in China. The mo-
Japan is naturally aroused. Only
this week announcement was made
of a big loan to be made by our
Export Import Bank to the Chi
nese. This step may have been
taken with the knowledge that
nothing could be done to avert the
completion of the JapaneSe-NaZi al
lance which has been in process OF
negotiation for some time. But il
this was the case. the action might
well have been delayed until after
the alliance was conSummated when
1t would have represented a delib-
crate policy on the part of America
toward aid for China and possible
war. On the theory that threats OF
force are important, ic might have
had a more salutary effect today on
future relations with Japan.
People Kept in Dark.
If, on the other hand. the United
States was not informed about the
Japanese intentions then our send
ing of financial aid to China and our
imposition of embargoes recently
may have been the straw that broke
the camel's back in Toxic.
The American people are in the
dark about all these important fact;
and yet they are supposed to do the
fighting when they are dragged
into war. Governments which pay
little attention to the morale of theil
peoples do not fight successful wars
Nor does an administration which
knowing of the dangers in the Fal
East, has failed to build up our de.
fenses more rapidly seem to bt
likely to merit approval at the
polls. knowing the prospect of wal
with Japan, the amortization ques-
ton so important to the building o1
new defense plants has been scan.
dalously neglected for two years by
the administration. America has q
powerful fleet in the Pacific but il
is a question of whether it was moi
more important to play ball with
Japan so our naval forces could be
diverted into the Atlantic than tt
antagonize Japan by meddling in
China and cutting off vital NUM-
&iopc from Ionon Those uybo uo n