UNITED STATES AND JAPAN

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 71, 17 December 1937, Page 11

UNITED STATES AND JAPAN

Naval Demonstration

POSSIBILITY HINTED IN NEW YORK State Department Denial GRAVITY OF DIPLOMATIC SITUATION By Telegraph—Press. Assn.—Copyright (Received December 16, 7.55 p.m.) New York, December 15. The most significant development of the day is a report that the United States is considering the possibility of a naval demonstration against taking the form of advancing the fleet manoeuvres in the Pacific now scheduled for March and April. One news agency features this report, which the State Department denies, but it is indicative of the position which has been reached. The report continues: ‘‘Among the possibilities are that of sending the fleet to Honolulu, Manila, or even Shanghai. A joint naval demonstration by Britain and the United States is also under discussion but it is considered dubious whether Britain’s main fleet would leave European waters in this troubled time.”

The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” emphasises that the deliberate and premeditated 'action by the Japanese, as indicated by eye-witnesses, has brought home the realisation that unless Japan meets the demands of the United States for full satisfaction an exceedingly grave diplomatic, crisis will confront the two countries.

Reports of a naval demonstration, adds the correspondent, appear to be incorrect, or at least, premature. It seems to be'indicated, however, that whatever situation develops President Roosevelt an<T the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, want as free hands as possible. Mr. Hull said he was unable to see either wisdom or practicability in Representative Louis L. Ludlow's proposal for a national referendum before Congress could declare war.

The correspondent learns from other sources that the best feeling of close co-dfijU]tion exists between Britain and America on the Chinese question and that Britain has not asked for joint action. NEWSPAPER COMMENT Tokio’s “Mad Militarists” DUTY TO IMPRESS THEM

(Received December 16, 6.50 p.m.)

New York, December 15.

Press editorial comments on the situation continues to be interesting. The “New York World-Telegram,” in a leading article, states: “It must not happen again. The people of the United States do not want war with Japan, nor, we believe, do the people of Japatl want war with the United States. We hope that Tokio 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 occurs. 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.”

The Japanese Consul-General in New York, Mr. Wakasugi, issued the following statement: “In 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 the causes so ' bound up with history that no good purpose would be served by mere argument excited by emotion or hasty judgment based bn one-sided provocation.” Mr. Walter Lippmann, the noted publicist, presents a strong argument against the withdrawal from China of American forces and nationals. “Asia is too big and there are too many American connections to make such a policy practicable,” he says. "This war in the Orient is not a local riot. It is raging over an area inhabited by more than 100.000,000 people with whom Americans have thousands of ties extending through many generations.”