Evening star., 1941-07-27

ruary the japanese Ambassador in WASH
ington. The close personal relationship
of these two men gives promise of eff
fective future cooperation between the
Embassy in Washington and the Foreign
Office in Toxic. Indeed, it is possible
to assert that the development of this
cooperation was a principal objective
in the selection of Admiral Toyoda as
Foreign Minister
Good relations between Japan and the
United States have for the past few years
been materially hampered by the in
ability of the Japanese Embassy in
Washington to speak authoritatively for
it's government The envoys from Japan
have been uniformly charming gentle
men. but their public and private as
surances have been as habitually con-
tradicted by the actual policy of their
country as it later developed. The con-
tlast with Ambassador Grew who has
consistently talked frankly to the Japa-
nese. with full reliance on support from
Washington. has been pronounced.
Appointment of NOmura.
With the arrival Of Admiral Nomura
in Washington a change set in. 1t was
known, in the first place. that the new
Ambassador had accepted this difficult
post only after assurance that his view
point would be respected in Toxic and
that his reports would carry weight
there. In addition. it soon became APP
parent that Admiral Nomura is an i'm
portant man in his own right, and no
mere flexible mouthpiece of policies laid
down by others.
1t is for this reason Inat the informal
and unadvertised series of private dis
cussions initiated between Secretary Hull
and Admiral Nomura last spring seemed
to bring new and welcome promise
into the gray picture of Japanese Amer
icsn relations. But that promise faded
with the erratic and mpredlctable ac-
tivities Of Foreign Minister Matsuoka.
1t would not seem to require much dis
cernment to realize that improved rela-
tions between Japan and the United
States are essential If the drift toward
hostilities continues it will mean ths
irrevocable attachment Of Japan TO the
Axis camp and A tTo-ocean var-
whether or not We by then possess two
ocean Navy-st such time as relations
between the United States and Germany
reach the breaking point. If that is
the prospect ahead. elimination Of the
one-year limitation on the service of
| drafted men will seem a very modest
| military proposal.
| Relations between Japan and the
| United States will not improve. however,
without an earnest effort by both parties
not merely to understand the viewpoint
| of the other. but even more to insure
| that the divergencies which exist shall
| not lead to increasing recriminations.
Relations Must Improve.
! So long as the Japanese argue that
| they are being "encircled" by Anglo
American activities and Americans re-
! tort that We are menaced by Japans
! pro-Axis "provocations" there is little
/ hope for the desired improvement. And
/ relations between Japan and the United
| States at present are too unsatisfactory
| to remain as they are. If they do not
improve they will rapidly deteriorate to-
! ward the final disaster of war which that
| deterioration will involve.
The new japanese government has
! an exceedingly difficult task before 1t. II
! Russia distintegrates, the pressure to take
| over Eastern Siberia as was attempted
| by Toxic in 1919, will be enormous. And
! if further pressures are applied to Japan,
| as punitive measure, the probability
! of what the japanese will call de
I fensive" move going beyond Indo-China
/ will be strong. 1t is worthwhile to re-
/ member that What seems clearcut az
| gression to one party can always be
| speciously set forward by the other as
| an aspect of "the inalienable right of
| self-defense!"
| In the improvement of Japanese Amer
| ican relations there is an immense op-
| portunity for constructive craftsmanship,
based on those forces of enlightened good
will to which we so frequently pay lip
| service.