Evening star., 1940-02-19
Porleys With Jopon
Now Held Futile
Nippon Must Outflow Rule
By Force First,
Writer Soys

VIlteT Boys
70 the Editor Of The star:
It Is not unnatural that an Ameri.
can like Mr.. David Lawrence, who IL
not intimately acquainted with the sit
uation In the Far East, should favor
friendly negotiations with Japan to regu-
late the matters now in controversy be-
tween the two countries. That is the
normal and proper method when both
parties are acting In good faith.
It is doubtful, however, whether Mr..
Lawrence fully appreciates the causes
OF the friction between the two ma
tons or the conditions which make
successful negotiation practically i'm
possible at this time.
Americans are irritated by the de-
struction or seizure Of their property in
China, by the extortion Of large sums
Of money from American merchants
through exchange controls, by the clos
ing of routes of trade and by assaults
on American citizens. They rightly
condemn the brutal killing Of unarmed
Chinese men, women and children, and
they are angered when inhuman meth
ods Of warfare result in the wounding
and death Of American citizens.
The Japanese minister for foreign az
fairs has admitted that there are some
900 cases Of claims against Japan for
injury done to American citizens and
their property in China. It is not the
croorhAQ ", thA Tor ~
tate us, but Japanese acts. And the
japanese are not 30 much disturbed by
American criticism as by our unwilling
ness to give up our rights or to ignore
our obligations to China.
Americans, as q peace-loving people,
resent any unprovoked attack on another
peace-loving state, not for sentimental
reasons but because the prevalence Of
such attacks postpones indefinitely the
realization of their hopes for q rule of
law and for relief from the rapidly In
creasing burden Of ornaments. The pres
ent condition, far from stirring merely
altruistic emotions, is translated into q
load of billions OF dollars of additional
debts and taxes that we Americans are
being compelled to carry, thanks to the
disturbing policies Of nations like Japan
and Germany. That the Japanese at
tack on China was contrary to reason
and justice has been fully established,
and has been recognized by most ma
tions.
Mr.. Lawrence does not understand the
japanese military mind as do some Of
US who have had contact with 1t for
three or four decades. The Japanese
Army does not tolerate any discussion on
terms of equality. It despises most for
eigners and all civilians. including its
own people. Except in the face of su-
perior power, 1t is not disposed to COM
promise. No economic concessions have
much meaning for those who believe,
like the Japanese Army officers, that
they may be in position soon to force
acceptance OF 100 per cent Of all that
they demand.
Our people also do not understand how
little influence japanese civilians in
general, and liberals in particular, have
with their army: nor how insubordina-
ton has crept into the oficer grades,
destroying the unity Of the army. The
war ONCE has to bargain with the gen.
erals in the field and rarely dares to
issue unwelcome orders peremptorily to
them. Even young officers not infre-
quently take the law into their own
hands against their superiors. It is not
possible to conceive Of any japanese
commission that could guarantee now to
carry out any agreement to which it
had consented. even if it included army
representatives.
An American who is friendly to Japan
and understands the situation well, con-
fesses that there is no hope of a settle
ment until the Japanese Army is de-
feated and thereby forfeits the conf
dence of its people.
The concession that Japan now most
wants from us is recognition of its claim
to overlordship over China. We have no
right to negotiate about that; nor is
there any reason why we should give
up our right to equal treatment with all
other foreigners in China, of which the
japanese Army is determined to de-
prive us.
The United States stands for the
faithful observance of treaties. We are
pledged to respect the integrity and in
dependence Of China, and not to counte-
nance action inimical to its interests.
In these days when 1t is clear that the
raw materials of the munitions industry.
and the equipment and fuels for trans
port are as essential parts of armament
as guns and soldiers, it should be clear
that by supplying such articles to Japan
we are violating solemn moral obliga-
ton, and helping to strengthen q force
that is menacing our own interests, II
we cease thus to facilitate Japanese
military operations, we may contribute
to fastening the time when useful neeo-
tiations such as Mr.. Lawrence proposes
can begin. ROGER s. GREENE.
February ..