Evening star., 1940-10-13
Far East Front

Far East Front
For a variety of reasons which in the
main are known to our citizens, the
Oriental situation touches us right now
more closely than any of Europes events.
Indeed, the situation in Europe and the
situation in the Far East are closely re-
lated; so that to say the Far East touches
us closely means only that the Far East
at the moment is the fiery bridge linking
us most closely to Europe. So the war
review this week is arranged differently
from its predecessors. Instead of the
war in Europe, it will consider first the
developments in the Far East.
On Monday, the administration, settled
by then on a policy of flrmness toward
Japan, took soundings on
Far East its next immediate steps,
Crisis fronted by the treaty of alli-
ance between Germany, Italy
and Japan Of September 27. Secretary
of the Navy Knox discussed the Pacific
Ocean military question with Admiral
James o. Richardson. commander in
chief of the fleet, during conference
attended by Undersecretary Forrestal,
Assistant Secretary Compton and Ad-
miral Harold L Stark, chief of naval
operations. Two days later, Secretary
Knox said that the United States fleet
would be brought to its full personnel
strength at once by the addition of 4,200
men who would be ordered to sail for
Hawaii with the warships now under
going overhaullng on the West Coast
This was the sort of military move
that gives muscle to diplomacy. The
day before Secretary Knox's announce
ment, Winston Churchill told the House
of Commons that Britain would open
the Burma Road in answer to Japans
pact with Germany and Italy. He de-
clared Japan's new allies would not be
able to help her so long as the British
and United States fleets ARE in being
In Rome, Premier Mussolinis paper, II
Popolo d'Italia. warned the United States
that Germany, Italy and Japan we're
ready to go to war with the United
States if America rejected the Rome
Berlin Toxic axis mutual living space"
offers-under which the world map is
carved up into spheres of influence by
Germany and Italy-and preferred in
stead to throw down the gantlet.'
The warning was no brake for London
or Washington. The State Department
advised American citizens to leave poten-
tial danger spots in the Far East, and
the Agriculture Department, aiming a
new economic blow at Japan, announced
suspension of the subsidy on wheat ex-
ports destined for the Far East. This
moves design was to discourage Amer
lean exporters from shipping grain to
feed Japan and Japan's armies. For 40
minutes Secretary of State Hull con-
ferred with Kensuke Horinouchi, the
Japanese Ambassador The potentiali-
ties at the western rim of the Pacific
occupied the jor attention of Wash
ington.
The first, midweek reaction by Japan
to this series of events was toughness.
The Toxic press intimated on
burmo Wednesday that Japan will
Rood close the Burma Road for
good with bombs if Britain
persists in her determination to reopen
this "backdoor" to China. The newspa-
pers said that the recent japanese ac-
QUESTION of airplane bases in French
Indo-China has given Japan a tremen-
dous strategical advantage against China
BY bringing her posts of operation closer
to her quarry. The road, built after
Japan had succeeded in occupying most
Of China's seaboard, follows a tortuous
2000-nile route over mountains from
Chungking, the provisional Chinese
capital, to Rangoon, In British Burma,
which has common frontier with Indo-
China
While Japan was presenting this bold
front. there was CONSERVATION among
the Americans in Shanghai, principal
American colony in the Japanese Far
East danger sector, as result of the
State Departments advice to them to
come home. The Shanghai Americans
wondered how they were to get home.
Secretary Hull said that the question
Of their transportation would await a
survey by our diplomatic and consular
officers in the Far East to determine
where the Americans are and how many
Of them require transportation.
The integration of the American Eng
hsh Far Eastern policy was disclosed in
its fullness on Thursday by R. A. Butler,
Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs of the
Churchill ministry, in the House of Com
mons. In response to question, Mr..
Butler related that the question of with
holding war supplies from Japan and
the possibilities of further Anglo-British
cooperation in the Far Eastern situa-
ton are subjects for discussion between
Washington and London.
Now Japan reconsidered the bold posi-
ton set for her by the Toxic newspapers
Foreign Minister Yo- |
Japon suke Matsuoka took to !
coMciIiotes the radio, saying that |
the Japan -Itaian-Ger-
man alliance lis a peace pact directed |