Will Watch Situation Carefully

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 174, 26 July 1939, Page 5

Will Watch Situation Carefully

American Policy Unchanged VARYING PRESS COMMENT Received Tuesdov, 11.30 p.m. WASHINGTON, July 25. The concensus of opinion here is that the United States does not intend to make an agreement similar to that between England ami Japan. It is stated that American policy will continue unchanged, although the situation will bo studied carefully to seo what Japan’s attitude to foreign interests will be now. Senator Hiram Johnson commented that, if the United States followed ’s Far East policy, * 4 wc would have been left holding the bag.” He added that tho situation parallels that when Mr. Stimson (ex-Secrctary of State) endeavoured to halt Japan’s conquest of Manchukuo. The New York Times comments that Britain has virtually granted belligerent rights to a nution which has not declared war. It says: “The Japanese have scored a diplomatic victory. If she had declared war, the United States, one of the principal sources of supply, would be bound to clap down an arms embargo. Through tho British concession she is now enjoying tho best of both worlds." The Times adds: “It is unfortunate that Mr. Chamberlain’s two statements in the House of Commons had to coincide. Signs of yielding on one front to strengthen another are understandable, but signs of yielding on two fronts are disquieting.” The New York Herald-Tribune says:

“There will V* much unjust grumbling in the United States about the betrayal of the white mau’,s rights and also China’s rights under international guarantees. It must be remembered, however, that such grumbling will come with poor grace from this country which has given Britain absolutely no encouragement to defend those treaty rights with which ours are bound up, or any reason to believe that wo would champion our common rights if tho European situation wero abruptly to demand the concentration of all her strength on her own doorstep. If the agreement leads directly to tho serious discomfiture of our people iu China we must reflect that tho Administration has studiously kept a blind eye to tho Far East.' *

The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, stated to-day that the United States viewed with concern the growing number of cases of violence against Americans by the Japanese military forces in China, lie added that apologies and other amends had been offered wnd accepted by American officials on the spot relative to the three most recent incidents, but left no doubt that informed officials feared a continuing series of provocative occurrences as long as the hostilities continued in the Far East.

The three incidents concerned the slapping of an American woman and an assault on two missionaries.

Mr. Hull declined to comment on the Anglo-Japanese agreement or to give an indication that the United States might consider following a similar