OPINIONS IN AMERICA

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 27 February 1933, Page 5

OPINIONS IN AMERICA

INTERVENTION NOT LIKELY NONE TTTTNKTNG OF WAR NEW YORK, Feb. 24. "On this day, which closes an era of the relationship of Japan with the machinery created at Geneva by Western nations to preserve the peace of the world, there is not to be found in Washington one /responsible public man who talks or even thinks ot the possibility of war between the United States and the people of the Asian Archipelago,” says the chief correspondent of the ‘‘New York Times”

at Washington. “This is an interesting and striking fact in view of the gravity of the issue and its bearing on American policies in the Far Easand certain manifestations of Japanese suspicions of this country’s attitude. . “There are, of course, certain affairs and men in the armed service who discuss the possibility of war just as much as their counterparts in Japan, but it is significant of American public feeling and the state of mind of the members of Congress and Government officials that not one of the many among whom I made inquiry responded otherwise than to 'the effect that war, even distant war, is unthinkable and. need not. and w r ill not come over the differences between Japan and the rest of the -world with respect to Manchuria.”

A member of one of the very small groups of Democrats which will conduct the foreign policies of -the Roosevelt administration said to-night that in a time of moral force the Geneva position of Japan’s Manchurian policy was unsupported in any way by economic or military agencies and was certain to bring about the desired change in that policy. This official declared his belief that the American attitude towards Manchuria and China had been generally right, and that eourteiufily but firmly maintained it would finally give the opportunity to the conservative and non-militaristie groups in Japan to reassume control of her policy and subdue the ruthless militarists. Wholly moral sanctions would win in the end, and in the not too distant future. RECOGNITION' OF SOVIET There ps no doubt, however, that a strong Democratic group in Congress favours recognition of the Soviet Government, partly because it believes it would help to check the Japanese activities on the mainland of Asia. It is indicated that the half-formed plan of the incoming administration is to settle in advance of the recognition of the Soviet, first the Russian-American debt status, secondly, the issue of Communist propaganda here, and thirdly the terms of new commercial treaties. Recognition thereafter is certain -to be extended by Mr Roosevelt ’s State Department. There is a possibility of an official pronouncement to-morrow on the American position concerning League Assembly developments following a conference between Mr 11. L_ Stimson and Mr C. Hull, which has already been arranged. . The indications are that the United .States will consent to co-operate in the new consultative committee of 21 at Geneva, .since the latter has been formed to observe developments in connection with the Nino Power and other treaties to which- the United .States is a signatory.

A philosophical attitude towards today’s developments at Geneva was expressed by the Japanese Ambassador, M. Debushi. “ When the world sees an orderly Manchuria by the early spring and a prosperous Manchuria next autumn it will understand that what, my country is doing has reason,” he said. "Wo in Japan in the meantime are going to be dignified and quiet. We have retired from the Assembly of the League, and nothing more can be done.”

In a leader entitled “Realities,” the “New York Times” states: “What reality can be more substantial than the full and deliberate expression of world opinion adverse to Japan? The most-embarrassing reality for thoughtful Japanese is that the spontaneous sentiment and unforced attitude of peoples all round the globe condemn what she has done.” The “New York Herald-Tribune” states: “The League has not. functioned in any way remotely like that, which its authors intended. Its intervention has not sufficed to halt the war; if anything its effects may actually have tended to exacerbate the situation and spread the area of fighting. The moral suasion which has now boon applied may, however, yet prove effective.”