A BLOW TO JAPAN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 259, 31 July 1939, Page 8

A BLOW TO JAPAN

A severe blow has been dealt to Japan’s trade connexion with America by the action of the United States Government in renouncing the treaty of 1911. That it has come as a bolt from the blue is apparent from the comment by the Japanese Foreign Office spokesman at Tokio on receipt of the first news that such a move was unthinkable.” Japan’s trade with the United States, says a note in the Japanese Official Year Book (1938-39) “is far in excess of that with any other country”; a note in the Japanese For Eastern Trade Bulletin of April last mentions that the United States has “far greater financial interests in Japan than she has in China.” In 1937, according to United States trade figures, America sold China goods wortn 55,700,000 dollars, and bought in return goods to the value of 105,000,000 dollars. But Japan, in the same year, bought 300,000,000 dollars’ worth from the United States, and sold in return goods valued at 200,000,000 dollars.

Thus a most valuable trade connexion is about to be lost, and negotiations for a new trade treaty will not be entertained, it is stated, till there has been a satisfactory settlement of political differences between the two countries. According to Mr. Frank H. Hedges, writing on the subject of Japanese-American relationships, there has been a marked change in anti-Japanese sentiment in the United States since the events in Manchuria which resulted in the creation of the new puppet State of Manchukuo, under the tutelage of Japan. Previously this sentiment had largely been confined to the Western States, of America, and originated from feeling against Japanese immigration. Today, says this writer, it is to be found “in every nook and corner of the Republic,” and is due, he adds, “to the national and international policies being put into practice by this Empire.”

. Like the Japanese themselves (says Mr. Hedges), the Americans are an intensely emotional people, and once their emotions are aroused it is difficult to reason with them on a matter-of-fact basis. They are aroused in this instance. Ono impulse in this respect is sheer sympathy for the under-dog, which none will deny is China. Japan’s military supremacy over China is so great that comparison is Impossible. Most Americans, in viewing the developments of recent years, and especially of the past two years, see a predatory, imperialistic, ambition-inflamed Japan springing upon her sprawling disorganized neighbour, just beginning to emerge as a State in the modern sense, with the objective of enslaving that neighbour and robbing her of all her goods worth the having.

The fact should not be overlooked that in renouncing the trade treaty the United States stands to lose in the material sense as well as Japan. This attaches to her decision a moral significance that should not be lost upon the totalitarian States of Europe. In his recent reverse over the proposed amendments to the Neutrality Act, President Roosevelt was handicapped by a weight of prejudice in. Congress against anything likely to involve America in complications in Europe. But this latest action is in tune with a large body of sentiment both. in Congress and among the American people against Japan’s aggressive policy in China. A similar swing of popular opinion against totalitarian aggression in Europe might change the present complexion.of American foreign policy in Europe, and encourage positive action along the lines previously contemplated. There can be no doubt that this very emphatic expression of American disapproval of Japanese policy will go far to offset the impression created in Europe by the British concession to Japan last week, and damp the exhilaration of the dictators over Japan’s vaunted “diplomatic victory. If currem American opinion is any criterion, the United States Government, though careful to explain that the abrogation of the treat; was decided upon entirely on its own initiative, and without consultation with Britain, has no doubt .measured the moral effect upon all concerned of this gesture of disapproval. As the New York Tinies views this new development, it is for the British Government a notification that “if she adopts a stronger policy in the face of Japanese pressure she will not stand alone.” There is now a suggestion emanating from official quarters in London that the possibility of a denouncement of the AngloJapanese Treaty of 1911 should not be excluded. Action in this direction will 110 doubt be subject to the attitude of the. Japanese Government in the present negotiations concerning British treaty rights in China. America’s action should have the indirect effect of inducing a more reasonable spirit.