Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, JULY 29, 1939. AMERICA AND JAPAN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 204, 29 July 1939, Page 8

Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, JULY 29, 1939. AMERICA AND JAPAN.

Nineteen years ago nine Powers whose representatives were assembled at Washing-ton signed a treaty by which they pledged themselves to respect the independence and integrity of China. Japan, one of the signatories to that document, is doing her very best to destroy what she pledger! herself to preserve, and though she has made no formal declaration of war wishes to have all the rights that should be accorded a belligerent. Britain, after the conference in Tokio, decided to face the facts of this undeclared war, and expressed her readiness ■0 act the part of a neutral in some respects as if war had been declared. While deliberately harassing British interests m China and treating- British nationals in an offensive manner. Japan has been careful until cpiite recently not to give offence to the United States. Last month the Secretary for State made a pronouncement as to America’s official attitude on the dispute at Tientsin, in which lie expressed “concern with the nature and significance of subsequent developments in their broader aspects, coupled with other past and present acts and utterances in other parts of China.” According to Mr Hull, America was observing with special interest developments as they occur from day to day. The United States has extensive interests in China, so that the incidents at Tientsin and other treaty ports concern her very much. The law of China, does not apply to a very large

area of coastal territory, nor wherever inland the Japanese army is in control, and the military authorities in their truculence have shown disregard for the rights of other countries, without however going to extreme lengths in the case of the United States. But, by practically forcing Britain to recognise her power in China, Japan has made the United States realise more than ever the difficulties that may confront Washington in rhc future.

In these circumstances the Administration must have decided to strike a quick blow by abrogating the commercial treaty of 1911, giving both countries tariff protection hut also providing against special import or export embargoes against either of the two countries. Six months’ notice is required on either side

to make renunciation effective, and -within that period Japan has the opportunity to alter her course in China, or else submit to the* penalties abrogation implies.. There is little to strengthen any view that Japan will change her policy. The United States, in such a circumstance, will be in the position to prevent war materials from leaving America for Japan, as well as imposing “virtually limitless economic penalties.” In this connection America absorbs one-fourth of Japan’s exports and supplies onethird of her imports, flaw silk from the East finds a most profitable outlet in the United States, and the loss of such a market would be a blow of the greatest magnitude to Japanese producers, for this luxury line could hardly be absorbed by other countries. The official explanation of "Washington’s dramatic move is to lie found in the Note which Tokio has received. Abrogation, it states, is aimed towards preparing the way for a new consideration of the treaty with a view to the better safeguarding’ and promoting of American interests as new developments may require. That the Chinese situation is not mentioned need cause no surprise, for public opinion knows that behind the Note lie the developments in that unhappy country. Senator Pittman expresses this when he says it can hardly he expected that the American Government should conform to all the requirements of amity under one treaty, while the other Government does not conform to all the requirements of amity under another (the Nine-Power Treaty). Japan has naturally resented Washington’s attitude and action, which must surely awaken in her business men and a large section of the public doubts as to the wisdom of the campaign in China