Evening star., 1940-04-28
U.S.. Is Likely to Do No More
Than Speak Sharply to Japan
State Department Knows American People Do Not
Want to Face War-Nippon Just as Apt
to- Ignore Our Many Protests
By Blair BoHes.

More than eight years ago, on January
Z, 1892 the United States began war
OF words with Japan. 1t still goes on,
but words-even when they are as fiery
as those predicting imminent conflict
with Japan which the Senate Naval AZ
fairs Committee heard last week from
Rear Admiral j. K. Taussig-break no
bones and they have not stopped Japan
from seeking her destiny of empire.
! Relations between Japan and the
United States are still in the angry-word
stage Battle is afar off despite the Ger
man-inSpired japanese gesture toward
the Netherlands East Indies, and it is
long way off despite the United States re-
fusal to recognize the japanese puppet
government in China, headed by Wang
Ching-wei. with which Toxic opened
formal diplomatic relations on Thursday.
The issue between the United States
and Japan is fundamental. Economic
ally. Japan threatens American markets
and sources of supplies in the Far East
and the Pacific-China. the Philippines,
the Netherlands Indies and, ultimately,
Australia, whose establishment of diplo-
matte relations this winter with the
United States was based chiefly on the
apprehension of japanese southwark ex-
pansion. Politically, the Japanese Ash
attic drive is a violation of the nine
power treaty, signed here February 6,
1922, guaranteeing the territorial integ-
rity of China, and of the Kellogg anti
war pact. The foundations for test of
iOt1 md faet &c a;.o14 La@,
the two great nations facing each other
from opposite ends of the wide Pacific
Ocean are in plain view.
Protests Likely to Continue.
But the United States Government will
do no more than speak sharply and wave
q papier mache stick Gin contrast to the
Theodore Roosevelt view until the Gov
ernment feels that the people of the
United States are ready to face war
with Japan. The State Department,
which keeps its finger on the American
pulse constantly. finds few fire-eaters
among the citizens ready for war It is
arguable that Admiral Taussig-for all
the sharp reprimand he received from
his superiors-was sending up a pre-
meditated trial balloon as an inf1uencer
OF public opinion in his fortnight re-
marks. The unanimous reaction to the
Taussig observations was the sort of dis
pleasure reserved for disturber of the
peace. In a democracy so complete as
ours the Government would not dare to
move toward war without confidence
that the people would support the move.
But undoubtedly the stern words will
continue to come from our high officials,
principally the Secretary of State. Sec
retary Stimson set the fashion January
z, 1882, when he dispatched identic notes
to the Chinese and Japanese govern
ments announcing this Governments re-
fusal to recognize the japanese regime
IN Manchukuo, carved from China by
the successful military expedition for the
seizure of Manchuria For more than
five years there was semblance of peace
between Japan and China. On July Z,
1887, the current war began. On July 16,
Secretary Hull put the American posi-
ton in the broadest words, appealing to
civilized morality:
Hull's Pronouncement.
"This country constantly and consist
emily advocates maintenance of peace.
We advocate national and international
self-restraint. We advocate abstinence
by all nations from use of force in pur-
suit of policy and from interference in
the internal affairs of other nations.
We advocate adjustment of problems in
international relations by processes of
peaceful negotiation and agreement. We
advocate faithful observance of interna-
tional agreements. Upholding the prin-
ciple of the sanctity of treaties, we be-
heve in modification of provisions of
treaties, when need therefor arises, by
orderly processes carried out in a spirit
of mutual helpfulness and accommoda-
tion."
This splendid dogma is sane but revo-
lutionary, because it denies all the bases
on which all imperialistic nations from
the days of the ancients widened the
boundaries of their empires When Mr..
Hull enunciated this doctrine the League
OF Nations as an international force for
order was in diSrepute. AS a voice for
law and order crying against the world
Of force, the United States has taken over
almost completely the symbolic leader
ship OF the League. So far as Japan is
concerned, the United States and the
League suffer from the same problem:
Condemnatory words carry little water
when they lack the firmness of a threat
of action
1T is very certain that the japanese
can be brought to reason only through
the influence of their fears" Commodore
Perry, who led the American naval ex-
pedition of 1853, which resulted in OPEN