JAPAN REBUKED

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 40, 1 February 1932, Page 8

JAPAN REBUKED

BY AMERICAN NEWSPAPER “SAVAGERY AND SLAUGHTER.” SUSPENSE IN WASHINGTON. New York, Jan. '3O. The "Herald-Tribune’s” Washington correspondent states that the suspense in Washington Is greater than at any time since the world war. The overnight turn for the worse in Shanghai, with the news of the Japanese occupation of various parts of the international settlement and further aerial demonstrations, with the possibility of a renewal of the aerial bombardment, has kept the administration waiting a reply from Japan to to-day's AngloAmerican protest. “The “Herald-Tribune,’’ in a leader, voices the sharpest rebuke to Japan .yet made by any responsible American journal. “Japan is using the same sort of savagery and slaughter as that indulged in by the Chinese war lords and is having as much difficulty in controlling her military as the Chinese have and is producing in the sum a situation from which she can only emerge with enormous loss and suffering.”

The question of arms export again came briefly before Congress with the introduction of a resolution in the House demanding a ban on private shipments. CHANGE IN NAVAL POLICY. Furthermore, according to the “New York Times,” “a feeling is prevalent in circles in close touch with the administration that a change in the Hoover naval policy may be announced soon as the result of the tense situation in the Far East.” “The Times” continued that some of the President’s strongest supporters believe that unless there is a change for the better in the Sino-Japanese situation soon it may be necessary to authorise the delayed London Treaty construction. Mr Hale, of the Naval Affairs Committee of the House, asserted that the situation warrants prompt action on the pending construction legislation.

Although no one In the Senate is predicting war of any kind between Japan and the united States, the Japanese policies in China have focussed attention on the "possibilities”.

Senator Walsh (Montana) asserted that Japan could not survive six months in an economic war with the United States, since the States hold Japan almost in an economic vice. Mr Walsh estimated Japan’s sales of tea and silk to the States to aggregate 250,000,000 dollars a year, which proceeds were used to import food into Japan Mr Walsh continued: “If war should eventuate from the situation in the Orient I do not believe it will be necessary for tho United States to Are a single shot.” Japanese bonds suffered further one to five point losses to-day and the yen was subjected to renewed pressure.

American munitions experts are interested in the fact that Japan, despite the low level of her textile industry, recently made, through agents in the United States, large purchases of raw cotton, which is readily convertible into explosives. Statistics indicate that Japan now possesses an unprecedented supply of cotton, havrng bought 1,009,000 bales in the United States between July and December, 1931, compared with 490,000 in the previous corresponding period. SARCASM AND IRONY. The “Chicago Tribune” states: “The cynicism with which Japan treated Mr Stimson’s representations could have been expected, although diplomacy seldom joins so much sarcasm in words to such irony in acts. If America cannot be brought by this to question the validity of the illusions which peisistently direct the conduct of its Government in foreign affairs, it is blind to experience.” Tho “Nev, York Times” states: “The most charitable theory of what happened at Shanghai is that the Japanse military command blundered sadly. The misery of it all is that these things were done under the pretence of tho peaceful, even friendly, assertion of Japan’s rights. We cannot say: ‘lt is war.’ It is worse than war. It causes alarm to spread around the world. Apprehension will tend to take the place of confidence. If Japan has destroyed her standing and repute among the nations she has only herself to blame.”