Evening star., 1941-11-09
Japanese Situation Threatens
i. S. With TwO>Ocean FIGHT
Kurusu Mission Seen as Means of Preventing War
In East Despite Hitler's Desire
For Tokio's Aid
By FeHr Morley.

it can, or cannot, safely risk war with
the United States. Germany certainly
wants nothing more than to see this
country at war with Japan. But there
is still strong Japanese element which
trusts that this outcome may be averted.
It is that element which sponsors the
special mission of Ambassador Kurusu
to this country, made by trans-Pacific
clipper lin view of the very serious sit
uation prevailing"
War between Japan and the United
States will not be averted, however, un-
less steps calculated to achieve that end
are willingly explored by both parties
during the visit of the Kurusu mission.
For the factors pointing toward hostili-
ties in the Pacific are too impelling to be
disposed of without greater effort for an
agreement than has as yet been made.
There is, in the first place the progress
Sive deterioration of Russian resistance.
The loss by the Soviet of its most vital
industrial centers, and the reports that
reserves are now being drained out Of
Siberia, alike indicate that the psyche
IO6lSd1 AlOl1lCIl 1Ol Japan w StlAh az
Vladivostok is near at hand. OF the de-
sire of the present Japanese government
to move against Russia in the East there
is little doubt. Fear that the step would
precipitate war with the United States
is one of the principal restraining factors.
Fear Less Pronounced.
That fear however, tends to become
less pronounced as the American Navy
gets more involved in an undeclared war
with Germany. The tWo-ocean fleet is
not yet fully in being and Japanese ex-
tremists. at least, maintain that If suf-
ficient American warships can be tied
up in the Atlantic, their navy can DOM
mate the Western Pacific, even If Brit
ish, Netherlands and Chinese forces are
allied with the United States.
There is room for infinite professional
argument on the comparative naval
strengths and fighting qualities. But
since the pro-Axis government of Gen.
is no longer room for the pleasant as
sumption that Japan is indisposed to
measure naval strength with the United
States. On the contrary there is all too
much reason to believe that the group
now formally in power would welcome a
showdown before the American defense
program becomes more advanced
The present complete rupture of all
commercial relations between Japan and
the United States is further condition
conducive to war. All trade with this
country being at a standstill, the strong
argument of japanese business against
war with America also Is stilled And
the argument for drastic action to seize
raw material sources now unavailable
from the United States is simultaneously
strengthened.
1t is now some months since friendly
Ambassador Nomura warned the De-
partment of State that an oil embargo
must inevitably encourage a japanese
move toward Singapore, where Gen.
Wavell, commander of the British In
dian Army, has now significantly arrived.
Situation Called Grim.
The grim character Of the Far East
ern situation is not yet generally under
stood in this country. Public attention
has been almost altogether concentrated
on the European scene. And as long as
the Russian resistance can be maintained
effectively, with or without aid Of Brit
ish expeditionary forces, further jap
anese outburst is doubtless improbable.
But if military collapse occurs in Russia
it seems inevitable that the Far East
will spring Immediately into streamer
headlines
In Washington there is full realiza-
ton of the danger. That realization
helps to explain why the President re-
fused to be stampeded over the sinking
of the Reuben James. Outright war with
Germany now, as urged so freely by the
more vocal section of our intelligentsia,
would be welcomed by Hitler as the at
tack" conducive to bringing in Japan.
And because war in the Atlantic would
weaken our defense in the Pacific, the
development would also be welcomed by
the militarist group now firmly in the
saddle in Japan.
AS the zero hour approaches, there Is
an evident disposition in Washington to
(See MORLEY Page B-3)