Evening star., 1941-11-27

dllUllS II IL
would make it David Lawrence.
possible for the japanese and Amer
ican peoples to avoid friction if
the nature of the problem were
better understood by the public
In both countries.
The fact that the United States
Government broadened the CONVEX
sationS to include in separate con-
ferences the diplomatic representa-
tives here of Great Britain, China
and the Netherlands is sufficient in
dication of a genuine attempt to
develop a 'modus vivendi," or tenn
porary arrangement.
Sometimes, when permanent
solution appears to be insurmount-
able because it is not possible for
either side at the moment to make
concessions, the diplomats suggest
a temporary basis without commit
ment as to what may happen there
after. Usually at the expiration of
a temporary agreement a basis is
found for continuance if there is
originally a will to agree.
L. S. or Hitler Is Issue.
The basic issue in the Japanese
American dispute is whether Toxic
is going to play ball with the United
States or with Adolf Hitler. There
is reason to believe that Japan
already has, within her own init
mate circle of government officials,
made her decision and it is to taper
off relations with the Axis over a
period Of time.
But such a step cannot be taken
BY the Toxic government, unless the
nationalistic spirit in Japan OBJ
tains certain definite pledges or
commitments which will broadly aid
in the economic development of
Japan. There can, on the other
hand. be little economic progress
for Japan while she is absorbed
In war with China. To liquidate
the China incident" is more i'm
portant for Japan than any ties
with the Axis. Japan basicaly is
interested in the Far East and her
intimacy with Hitler from the very
beginning has been to develop
trading point or leverage upon
America which would assist the
Japanese in fulfilling their Far
Eastern aspirations. The United
States, on the other hand, sees in
China an ally of great value in
the event that Japan insists on
adopting a warlike course toward
America. To arm the Chinese and
give them mechanical weapons is
a natural military step for power
many thousands of miles away
which cannot possibly transport
man power to the Far Eastern areas
in any substantial amounts.
Questions Delicate.
Japan is we'll aware that the
American policy has military back
ground and the questions become
very delicate as militarists in japan
see the American Navy cooperating
with the British Navy to keep open
the routes to the Dutch Fast Indies
Is we'll as to the Siberian ports.
If Japan, on the ether nand,
could break away from the Axis
there would be no need for any
military or naval concentration by
the American or British govern
ments in the Far East But to
sway Japan away from the Axis
requires an understanding between
China and the United States as
to what can be done to bring about
a peaceful solution of the Chinese
Japanese War.
The United States holds some
trump cards because her financial
and economic resources can be OF
material assistance to both Japan
and China in an era Of reconstruc-
ton, and everybody knows that
economically both countries are IN
q desperate plight.
Nazi Influence Troublesome.
The opportunity for a statesman
like settlement is here, provided
troublesome elements in the public
opinion Of Japan do not intrude
themselves and make the task un-
solvable. Thus there are elements
In Toxic which are inspired and
Influenced by the Nazis, who do not
want to see Japan and the United
States working together. There are
elements, also, which are not ready
10 see Japan give ground IN China
because of possible misconstruction
Of such q step as indicating a worth
less sacrifice over the past several
years.
The negotiations thus far have
been very we'll handled. The send
ing Of saburo Kurusu, who speaks
excellent English and understands
the American point of view because
Of long residence here, was a master
stroke. Admiral Nomura, the Jap
anese Ambassador, is a very able
diplomat and he is thus assisted
10 an incalculable degree by Mr..
Kurusu's ability to interpret the
American Governments views.
The Japanese government has q
mission of two able spokesmen In
Washington - something suggested
In these dispatches several weeks
ago-and the United States Gov
eminent has undertaken to keep
in contact with a mission of diplo-
mats representing China, Great
Britain and the Netherlands-the
powers really interested in any final
settlement.
There has been an underlying
will 70 peace in the negotiations,
a.. L1aI