Evening star., 1944-10-28
| Grew Warns Nation
Against an Enticing
Jap Peace Proposal

Jap Peace Proposal
A warning that the United States
may. soon be tempted with an 'en-
ticing peace offer" from Japan was
expressed by Joseph G. Grew. for.
mer Ambassador to Japan, in an
address before 800 Navy Day dinner
guests in the Mayfiower Hotel last
night.
The dinner, one of series Of such
affairs held throughout the coun-
try, climaxed day of celebration,
high lighted by parade in the aft
ernoon. The dinner was sponsored
by the Navy League.
Mr.. Grew called on the Japanese
to surrender Internationally now.
Can't Avert Defeat.
THE Japanese cannot avert de-
feat by postponing the inevitable, -
he said. If they act now, they will
avoid useless sacrifice and wholesale
devastation. Let them call 1t day."
He pointed out that not all Japa-
nese were "stolid, long suffering,
blindly obedient peasants or emo
tionally unstable fanatics"
There are some skrewd, level
headed, coldly calculating Japa-
nese," he said. Before the complete
ruin of Japan these men are almost
certain to make an attempt to save
something from the wreckage"
Probable Procedure.
The former Ambassador outlined
the general pattern he believes the
Japanese would follow in making
peace overtures to the United Ma
tions. He said they would replace
their present government with men
who have been regarded in this
country as liberals. Then they
would offer to withdraw their troops
from occupied areas and return
those areas to their former status,
he said. And as a final bait, he
warned, they might even agree to
take their troops out of Manchuria.
Yes, indeed" said Mr.. Grew, "the
bait would be beautifully sugar.
coated and painted in the most at
tractive colors, the sort of bait that
the American people, a peace-mind-
ed and kindly people, weary of war
and eager to get our fighting men
home from the far-flung battle
fronts, would. the Japanese believe,
gratefully accept.
Should that moment come, Amer
lea, the United Nations, would be
put to a most severe test. The
temptation to call it a day might be
stronger than we can now visualize.
That, my friends, would be the mo-
ment to fear, not for ourselves, but
for our sons and grandsons, lest they
should have to flght this dreadful
war over again in the next gen.
Grafton" |
Navy Victory Praised.
Undersecretary OF War Robert p.
Patterson represented the War De-
partment in paying tribute to the
Navy at last nights dinner. He
characterized the victory of the Navy
over the japanese in Philippine
waters as lone Of the greatest VIC
tories In our history"
The details are not yet available"
he said, but this we know, that the
Japanese Navy has taken a mauling
it will never recover from. That
navy Is on the way out.
Americans knew this day would
come. We knew 1t even in the dark
days after Pearl Harbor. Our Navy
has never failed us and our faith in
the Navy has never faltered."
At the same time, Mr.. Patterson
cautioned against overoptimism in
the light Of favorable dispatches re-
Gently from most fighting fronts.
Hard Fighting Ahead.
I'VE must not fall into the error
OF thinking that the end of the war
is just around the corner" he said
We know that we will win complete
and final victory. But a great deal
OF hard f1ghting-land, sea and air
lies ahead, in Europe and in the Far
East, and there must be no letdown
In the output Of war weapons here
at home"
Admiral william H. STANDBY, U.
8. N. retired, acted as toastmaster.
Comdr. Barham R.. Gary was chair
man OF the committee arranging the
event. A chorus OF 20 WAVES sang
patriotic songs and other music was
furnished by the Marines Fife and
Drum Corps and by the Navy Or
chestra.
Earlier in the day, As wreaths
were placed at the foot of the statue
OF John Paul Jones by various pa
triotic organizations as the parade
dispersed in that area. Rear Admiral
j. w. A. Waller, R. N. representing
the British Admiralty delegation, /
called Americas earliest naval hero
an exponent of lease-lend at time
when Engand was behaving in an
arbitrary fashion.
Moored at the Coast Guard pier,
at Seventh street and Maine ave-
nue. S.W.. was the 7,50O-ton mari
time service training ship American
Navigator, which brought 400 mer-
chant seamen trainees here to par
ticipate in yesterdays parade. The
401-foot ship is commanded by
Comdr. J. G. Reyelander IT 6 N p