AMERICANS DISCUSS EVACUATING CHINA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 299, 17 December 1937, Page 7

AMERICANS DISCUSS EVACUATING CHINA.

PRESS ADVOCACY. Wisdom of "Look Before You Shoot." DELICATE SITUATION. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Received 10.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, December 16. Disclosures of the deliberate nature of the Japanese attacks on the American ships on the Yangtse prompt the New York "Daily News" to demand the withdrawal of the American forces from China and the invocation of the Neutrality Act, leaving American ships and nationals in the war zone at their own risk, i A leading article in the paper, entitled "Scuttle Out from China," states: "The best thing we can do is to pull out our fighters from China with a view to picking our best battle ground in the middle of the Pacific, if, God forbid, we ever have to fight Japan. The best thing we can do is to build consistently to maintain the best navy in the world." Mr. Walter Lippmann, a noted publicist, presents a strong argument against withdrawal. The Japanese must not be misled as were the Germans from 1915 to 1917, by those who say the United States should withdraw their ships, soldiers and nationals from the war zone, he says.

If the United States wished to do that it couldn't. Asia is too big a place and there are too many American connections, and war zones are too extensive to make any such policy practicable.

"This war in the Orient is not a local riot which prudent bystanders might avoid by walking away. This war is raging over an area inhabited by more than 100,000,000 people with whom Americans have thousands of ties extending through many generations.

"There is no way to withdraw and no alternative but to insist firmly on 110 more but no less than our minimum and simple, 'uncontested and uncontestable rights. 1 " Japan's "Mad Militarists." Editorial comment continues to be interesting. The Xew York "World Telegram," in a leader entitled "It Mustn't Happen Again," says: "The people of the United States do not want war with Japan nor, we believe, do the people of Japan want war with the United States. We hope Tokyo will find a way to impress her mad militarists with the wisdom of looking before they shoot.

"For, if this is not done it is just a question of time until a new incident will occur. Emotions may then be aroused to such a pitch that we will suddenly find ourselves, Japanese and Americans alike, up to our necks in trouble which none of us wants."

A report, which now appears to he incorrect, or at least premature, was in circulation to-day stating that the United States was considering the possibility of a naval demonstration against Japan. . This would take the form of advancing the date of the fleet manoeuvres in the Pacific, now scheduled for March and April. However, the State Department denies tlv report. American and British Co-operation. It seems, nevertheless, that whatever situation develops. President Roosevelt and Mr. Cordell Hull. Secretary of State, want their hands as free as possible. This was seen when Mr. Hull to-day threw his influence against Mr. L. Ludlow's movement for any declaration of war to be authorised by a referendum of the people. "From the standpoint of promoting peace and keeping the United States out of war," said Mr. Hull, "i am unable to see either the wisdom or practicability of this proposal."

Commenting on reports that Britain was disappointed that the United States would not engage in joint action with Britain, Mr. Hull insisted that there was 110 justification for such reports. He reiterated the policy of consultation with Britain, and often the adoption of similar parallel action, although always retaining freedom of choice.

It is stated to be learned from other sources also that the best feeling and close co-operation between Britain and America exist on the China question, and that Britain has not asked for joint action.

WORLD BOYCOTT. Proposal by Eminent World Personalities. JAPANESE CONSUL REPLIES. NEW YORK, December IG. The famous scientist, Albert Einstein, the savant and pacifist, Bertrand Russell, the French author, Romain Rolland, and the American philosopher, John Dewey, have issued the following statement:— "In view of the wanton destruction of Oriental civilisation and for the sake of humaiiity, peace and democracy, we propose to the peoples of all countries that they organise a voluntary boycott of Japanese goods and refuse to sell or load war materials for Japan. "We propose that they shall cease co-operating with Japan in ways that will help her aggressive policy, while giving every possible help to China for relief and self-defence until Japan has evacuated all her forces from China and abandoned her policy of conquest." The Japanese Consul-General in Now York, Mr. Wakasugi, has made the following statement:-—"ln these critical moments be calm, wise and far-seeing regarding the present conflict in China, because the situation in the Far East is so complicated and its causes are so bound up with history that 110 good purpose would be served by mere argument, excited by emotion, or hasty judgment based <">n one-sided provocation."