Evening star., 1941-08-22

aided by an alert So
public opinion, David Lawrence.
as outlined in one of the eight
points" agreed upon by President
Roosevelt and Prime Minister
Churchill, then in the present crisis
between Japan and the United
States. a strange apathy and in
difference may be observed. This
Is partly due to the censorship
which has been imposed inside
Japan and partly due to the lack
of information made public by our
own Government as to the argu-
ment being made in official con-
versations that have been going on
at Toxic and Washington.
What do the Japanese people,
however, know today about true
American purposes? What do the
American people know of the actual
division that exists in Japan be-
tween those who think tie-up
with Hitler Is fatal and those who
think the only opportunity for
japanese economic expansion lies in
q Hitler victory in Europe?
Key to Trouble.
The key to the trouble, OF course,
Is the Japanese-Chinese conflict.
The United States is not opposed
TO japanese commercial expansion;
IN fact, under certain circumstances,
would join in the economic develop
ment of China along with the jap
anese. Those Japanese who think
they can get economic outlets on
the Asiatic continent only by brute
force are mistaken. There is an
other and less dangerous way, but
It requires an agreement to cease
fighting or military coercion and
through the mediation of the
United States to establish an ar
nistice in China till economic ar
rangements can supersede military
territorial or political ambitions. 1t
requires also that Japan make the
choice between being an ally OF
Hitler and Mussolini and an ally Of
the United States and Britain.
Japan has made her greatest strides
when operating closely with America
and Britain in the Far East.
But what would be required of
the United States and Great Brit
ain? They would have to agree
Jointly, first of all, for the imme-
diate future that all military sup
plies sent via Siberia to European
Russia would be strictly confined
TO that purpose and not diverted
for use against Japanese interests
In Northern China. The opening
up of military activity in the ST.
berian area has aroused suspicion
In Japan and give its military
clique an excuse to press for closer
collaboration with Hitler and per-
haps even seizure of strategic points
on the Pacific Coast of Asiatic
Russia.
Being Drawn to War.
Basically the United States and
Britain are being slowly drawn by
one incident after the other into
the orbit of inevitable war with
Japan because the Japanese-Ch
nese war remains unsettled. To per-
riade Japan to abandon her alli-
ance with Hitler and remain neutral
IN European affairs requires first
of all that there be peace formula
ss between China and Japan. The
United States and Britain are the
only nations that can end that con-
fiict on basis satisfactory to Japan
and China. The war has been a
tremendous burden on the japanese
people and it has prevented the de-
velopment of the Chinese markets
which are big enough for joint in
ternational action By new capital.
There have been regrettable pin
bricks" on both the side of Japan
and the United States. Recent hold
Ing of 100 Americans by refusal OF
japanese authorities to let them
sail for home has created a pro-
found impression here. More i'm
portant, however, than the holding
I'D of the sailing of these people is
the getting of an answer to the
question of why Americans Shoulc
feel obliged on the advice of theil
own Government to leave Japan
Part of the answer is that the Toxic
government has allowed itself to bt
Influenced too much by Nazi agent:
who have established virtual fifth
column in Toxic with only one OBJ
ject-to force Japan into war witt
the United States. The Nazi
plainly have a selfish object which
an intelligent people like the Jap
anese have not yet perceived.
Would Start Anew.
The best way to settle the Incl
dent of the 100 Americans is for
new start to be made in japanese
American relations so that no Amer
leans need leave Japan and no Jap
anese need leave the United States
It can be done if Toxic will take
long look into the future and cas-
her fortunes with the United State
rather than with Hitler. For ther
will always be a Pacific Ocean an