Evening star., 1946-06-23
Secret Papers Show
How Stimson Chanqed
His Mind on Japan
BY the Assoeiatsd Press


BY the Asseeiatsd Press
The first step in Henry L. Stim-
sons evolution from q cautious
diplomat to an outspoken leader
who tried to mobilize the democratic
world against Japanese aggression
was charted in hitherto secret docu-
ments made public last night.
The documents, contained in q
l 1.000-page volume on American
foreign policy in the Far East in
1881, cover the period from August
20, a month before Japanese and
Chinese troops clashed In the South
Manchuria railway incident" to
January 6, 1882. Made public by
the State Department. the volume
will be sold by the Government
Printing ONCE.
At the end of the period covered,
Mr.. Stimson - President Hoover's
Secretary of State-still had not
emerged as the leader Of a move
to halt Japanese conquest Of Man
churia by imposing an embargo.
That came later.
Attitude CHANGED Swiftly.
But in the four months Mr.. Slim
son did develop from a man who
bent over backward to avoid Offend
ing Japan to one who told the
Japanese what he thought OF their
treachery in Manchuria and pledged
at least silent cooperation If the
League of Nations slapped sanctions
on Tokyo.
At the start, Mr.. Stimson told
China the United States was mot
taking Sides and was playing no
favorites."
For the moment, we are con-
cerned with the question Of peace" "
he said.
Although he made recommends
tions to the League Of Nations
Council on It's course Of action,
Mr.. Stilnson warned the American
Consul in Geneva not to give the
Of collaborating too
closely with the League.
He insisted that the invocation of
the Kellogg BRAND antiwar pact
be initiated in Geneva, not Wash
ington.
This caution. Mr.. Stimson made
clear, was prompted by two factors
l. American public opinion.
2. Belief that the Japanese cabi-
net-particularly Foreign Minister
Baron Shidehara (who has served
as Premier under Gen. Macarthur
during the occupation) wanted
peace and had a chance to gain the
upper hand over the war minded
Japanese military.
Jap Deceit Detailed.
The story Of the period covered
by the volume is one of japanese
deceit, treachery and aggression; !;
Chinese humiliation, pathos and
patience, and big-nation Gncluding
American) apathy and procrastina-
ton.
Whether the neutral diplomats
could have done better with the
tools they had (the League of Ma
tions, the Kellogg BRAND pact, and
the nine-power treaty. is not
cleared up in the papers. The docu-
ments, however disclose little fore
sight in world capitals on what
Japan's aggressive beginnings in
Manchuria eventually would mean.
For example
On September II, 1881, DR.. John
G. Ferguson Of Boston, then adviser
to the Chinese government, told
United States Minister Nelson r.
johnson he had information that
the Japanese would occupy Man
within three months.
Mr.. johnson, however. reported to
Mr.. Stimson that he thought such
action highly improbable"
2c Johnson Changes Mind.
1T seemed fantastic that at this
time the Japanese would act in
this way" he wrote. Following the
Mukden incident and the spread
OF Japanese aggression, Mr.. john
son changed his mind in a hurry.
His subsequent dispatches reveal
a growing alarm and a keen aware
ness Of japanese intentions.
But as late as October 16 the
United States Embassy in Tokyo
told Mr.. Stimson in a diplomatic
that the Manchurian Sit
uation was unfortunate and try
ing, but it does not amount to a
world crisis" No war was likely,
the Embassy said.
Other diplomats not only were
unconcerned over Japanese aggres-
sion, but largely blamed the Chinese
for the situation in Manchuria.
CIaudel Backed Japan.
French Ambassador Paul Claudel
told Undersecretary of State Will
liam r. Castle on October u that
his sympathies were with Japan
because he felt "they had endured
almost more from the Chinese In
Manchuria than was humanity en-
durable"
Throughout the period the Japa-
nese diplomats made promise after
promise about their intentions to-
ward China while their armed
forces continued to tighten a
strangle hold on Manchuria, pre-
pairing the way for creation of the
puppet state, Manchukuo.
And throughout the period, too,
the League Of Nations Council car