The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-04-08
TUESDAY, APRIL s, 1871
THE MANILA CONFERENCE

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 1871
THE MANILA CONFERENCE
Il is significant that as Yosuke
Matsuoka, Japanese foreign minis
ter, holds conversations with the
Axis dictators based on require
ments of the Triple Alliance, re-
ports from Manila announce the
expectation of Anglo American
discussions there regarding prob
lens of Far Eastern defense. The
sudden arrival in Manila of Air
Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke
Popham. commander.in-chiet OF the
British forces in the Orient, would
have Importance in itself alone but
gains added suggestiyeness because
he is acco lpanied by a staff OF ex-
perts.
His scheduled conversations with
Admiral Hart. commander Of the
American Asiatic fleet, will not
escape attention in Japan. There
is no room for the Japanese TO be
affronted or to charge America
with unfriendliness since Matsuoka,
himself, has been quoted as calling
Americas special attention to his
Berlin and Rome visits.
Plans Tor mutual Anglo-American
defense which are expected 10 be
examined at the Manila conference
do not indicate a conviction that
the European war must spread TO
the Far East The probabilities
seem to point TO conservative intlu-
ences becoming increasingly
strong In that area: but there can
be no certainty that German-ltalian
pressure may not succeed in pro-
ducing lelligerent decisions.
1t is only natural that precaution-
airy measures be discussed in Man
liza The signatories Of the Triple
Alliance announced some time ago
that they had arranged for mutual
conversations to strengthen their
common interests. That similar
American and British action should
be taken now is only to follow the
precedent set by the triple allies.
For some time. in fact, peopl,
have been asking why the United
States and Great Britain had not
already initiated conversations on
the ground concerning defense
plans in the Far East.It is a general
practice for countries having com
mon interests to discuss them with
out forming any alliance.
II is only logical that such ad-
vance preparedness be undertake
zen. Often action OF this kind has a
pacific result in other circles where
strictly realistic judgments alone
are effective in producing decisions
Should common sense fail to pre-
vail in the Far East and war, mimi
cal TO American interests, break
out there, IL would not reflect
credit on American defense STRAIT.
egg IL all possibilities had not been
considered and prepared for In ed.
vance. The most serious possibility
would be involvement Of America In
a common defense OF existing con-
ditions.
That would necessarily mean
active cooperation with Great Brit
ain. II strategic plans for mutual
action had not been arranged be.
forehand, hasty and unconsidered
decisions would be necessary, caus-
ing the possibility OF inefficient
operations.
The entire area in the Orient
from Hong Kong and the Philip
pines westward TO the Dutch East
Indies and Singapore, constitute a
unified field for defense and count.
er-attack, with Australia In the
background as the nearest major
supply base. How TO obtain the
most effective results tr, N co-or-
dinating the power Of these defense
positions requires considerable
elaboration.
Not to arrange for common means
of protection would give any poten.
tial enemy a large advantage at the
start Of hostihties. To effect a divi-
sion Of an opponents strength is
the first major purpose in any Of.
fensive, on land or sea.
II the enemy, itself. voluntarily
divides its power as the Italian fleet
did In last weeks sea tattle in the
Mediterranean 1t becomes ineifec-
tive. Any such duplication OF detec.
tive Italian strategy in the Orient
scarcely comedies with the realism
Of British and American naval com.
manders.
To render such a result impossi.
Bile, however. neeessitates planning
In anticipation Of future poss!bili.
ties. The possibilities may not
arise but IT seems apparent that the
discussions reported from Manila
indicate that II they do, they will
not encounter division OF defensive
strength.