Evening star., 1941-12-07
u. S. Japanese War Is Absurd
Economically, Writer Asserts
Each Country Would Have Little to Gain, but
Tendency of Great Conflicts to Grow
Larger Asserts Itself
Ry FeHr UOrer
Br Felix Morley.

From the economic viewpoint no
greater absurdity than war between
Japan and the United States could be
imagined. The normal commercial rela-
tionships between these two nations are
almost unique for their freedom from
serious competitive problems. In nearly
all important particulars Japanese
American trade is complementary and
mutually advantageous to the very inter-
est in beth countries.
The primary japanese export to the
United States has for many years been
raw silk, an agricultural product IN
which no American farmer is interested
but which, when converted into dresses.
stockings and underwear is much de-
sired by the aforesaid farmers wife and
daughters, TO say nothing of the URBAN
lied section of our feminine population.
Beyond the individual satlSfacuons
which this silk affords, hundreds OF
thousands of Americans have come to
depend for their normal living on the
various phases of its transportation,
manufacture and distribution.
On the other hand, Japan has become
dependent on the United States for
major share of articles and commodities
which read like an index to Americas
basic production. In recent years this
country has supplied from one-third TO
four-fifths of all japanese imports OF
cotton. wheat. oil, leather, lumber, auto
mobiles. machinery and diverse steel
products. The amount of employment
provided for Americans by the japanese
market in all these lines has also been
very great.
Stoppage of Trade.
Since last summer this mutually bene-
fetal trade has been completely stopped,
though the substitution of war econ
omv prevents the effects Of the change
from being universally apparent. We no
longer buy any japanese silk, tea,
brushes camphor, toys, grass rugs, pot
terry. embrolderles. pearls or other artl-
cles which used to be furnished by that
country Japan no longer receives from
us the far more essential products which
We used to ship across the Pacific
There is already economic war between
the two nations and its effects are such
that Shooting war would bring very
little additional strain Immediately. The
difference is that actual fighting would
permanently and disruptively terminate
that long era of harmonious commercial
interchange which has been of incal-
culable benefit TO the people Of both
countries.
From the political viewpoint 1t is
equally impossible to see any long-range
advantage which can be expected BY
either the United States or Japan from
the war IN which both countries are
very reluctantly preparing to engage.
Fulfllment of japanese hopes for "a
co-prosperity era in Greater East Asia
depends entirely on achievement Of a
peaceful working agreement with the
now vell-established nationalistiC gov
eminent of Gen. Chang Kai-shek. After
enduring four years of onslaught that
regime is in most fundamentals stronger
than it was at the start Of what the
japanese once euphemistlcally called
the China incident" In consequence
there is progressively less Chinese dis
position to cooperate with Japan, far
less to accept the latter's domination.
Japans Desperation.
Since Japan has failed to subdue an
unaided China in four years il is certain
that this objective would not be ad-
vanced if the enormous strength of the
United States is thrown without reser-
vation on the Chinese side. The mere
fact that the japanese government is
now clearly willing to take the huge risk
of this enlarged war is the clearest pos
sible indication of the feeling of deSper-
alton which now controls the empire.
On the other hand, there is nothing
which the United States can gain by
going to war with Japan. If we should
completely defeat and humiliate that
nation we would only succeed in de-
stroying our best market in the Far East
and in converting treasured friendship
into bitter and permanently revengeful
attitude on the part of the japanese
people.
If it is impossible for JAPAN to DOM
mate China it is at least equally I'M