Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-02-02
CLAWS TIGHTEN


knockout. It notified the French
authorities in Indo-China that
continuation of rail transport into
China would constitute an un-
friendly act. The colonial French
orphaned by the fall of their
motherland, yielded TO the pres
sure.
That was the darkest day In
modern .Chinas history. The claws
of Japan frightened about her
neck But Chang did not
wait upon Fate. He rallied his
armies 10 new heights of resls-
lance. He sent some Of the high
est officials Of his government 10
Washington and London 10 present
his case-that help TO China would
prove sound insurance for the
future of their own interests in
Asia.
These missions were not imme-
diately successful. because the
march OF Hitler through Europe
then riveted the attention of the
two English-speaking powers. But
at last Winston Churchill reached
an understanding with Franklin
u. Roosevelt to the effect that a
firm gesture toward Japan was
in order. The British ordered the
road through Burma reopened.
MUCH REJOICING
China received this announce
ment with boundless rejoicing.
The first trucks that rumbled
across the Burmese border into
China were greeted as heavenly
chariots of deliverance. But soon
the cold dank fact seeped into
China's consciousness-the Burma
road was almost useless as a chan
mel OF supply. The statistics told
the story.
In that winter OF 1940-1941 the
Burma transport averaged only
about 1000 tons a month, whereas
the lost rail line through Indo-
China had delivered close TO
40 900 tons.
But in the early fall OF 1871.
when the monthly transport rose
as high as 10000 tons as a result
OF the system installed by an
American commission OF trans
portation experts. the Burma road
at last became what IL was in
tended 10 be-the lifeline of fight
ing China.
The Burma road now gave
armies some or the mate
rails they required. These precious
shipments had 20 he protected
from Japanese bombs. as did the
road itself. What China needed
was a defensive air force Of the
best modern type Strangely,
OBVIOUSLY, dramatically China got
what II needed
America in the winter 81 1871
was emerging from behind the
blindfold fastened on its eyes by
years OF peace. OF wishful thinking.
and isolationist oratory.
Also. some were coming 10 real
ize that in strong and unified
China lay the best hope for peace
in Asia and for a permanent
check 10 the threat of the military
iingoists OF japan.
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
For a long time before this.
Chinese spokesman in Washington
had been laboring the point that
Americas own lifeline in Asia lay
athwart the path Of empire Japan
had mapped for itself. But the
gigantic DOGGY OF Hitlerisrn and
the fear Of involvement in war
dominated official thought.
With evident half-heartedness,
our government had applied what
arc known as economic sanctions
TO deprive Japan OF some OF tho
Sinews of war. We renounced our
trade treaty and cut down, little
by little. our shipments of scrap
iron (bomb fragments 10 the
Chinese), airplanes and parts. ma
chine tools. and the high octane
gasoline that drove the Jap bomb
ers over the defenseless cities OF
China.
Over many months we continued
TO slap Japan smartly on the wrist
with such devices, which did moth
ing 10 benefit the Chinese or to
dissuade japan from its plans and
purposes. Indeed they were even
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