AMERICA AND CHINA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21117, 26 February 1932, Page 9

AMERICA AND CHINA.

POLICY OF OPEN DOOR.

THE NINE-POWER TREATY. JAPAN'S ACTIONS CRITICISED. SYMPATHIES ALIENATED. Telegraph—Press -Association—Copyright. (Received February 25, 7.35 p.m.) NEW YORK. Feb. 24. Despatches from Washington state that the United States stands firmly behind the policy of the open door in China and disputes Japan's claim that, the NinePower Treaty should be revised on the ground that China cannot maintain order. In an open letter to tlie chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate, Mr. W. E. Borah, the Secretary of State, Mr. H. L. Stimson, says observance of the treaties would have avoided the present situation and no evidence had reached tho United States Government that compliance with them would have interfered with the protection of all legitimate foreign rights in • China. Tho Nine-Power Treaty, says Mr. Stimson, was entered into at a time when China was engaged in an attempt to develop free institutions. Tho Powers realised that China would require many years to attain that end. The treaty, therefore, was a covenant of self-denial among the signatory Powers in deliberate renunciation of any policy of aggression which might tend to interfere with that development. In his sweeping reaffirmation of the policy of the United States Mr. Stimson declares that the whole fabric of international understanding in the Far East, including even the balance of naval power agreed upon in 1921 and 1922, is threatened by the Sino-Japanese hostilities. It was partly because of the guarantees in the now disregarded Nine-Power Treaty, Mr. Stimson says, that the United States agreed to give up some of her battleships and abandon the further fortification of Guam and the Philippines. Economic Boycott of Japan. This statement by the Secretary of State marks an important stage in the gradual clarification of American public opinion, the trend of which now unmistakably favours China. There is accumulative evidence of a feeling of resentment which is ready to urge measures of some kind against Japan. Comment is still somewhat restrained, officials and leaders of Congress declining to discuss to any extent Mr. Stimson's statement. However, tho popular reaction to it is evidenced in a chain letter movement urging refusal to use Japanese goods. College women's societies are advising their members to refrain from purchasing Japanese silks. There is increasing discussion of the possibilities of tho League of Nations instituting an economic boycott, of Japan. The Washington correspondent of the New York Herald-Tribune sums up the position by saving: There is no ignoring the fact that the use of economic sanctions in the Sino-Japanese situation is coming more and more into consideration. Attitude of the Other Powers. There is considerable comment, even criticism, in the press and otherwise, concerning the attitude of the other great Powers toward Japan in the- present crisis.

The French Ambassador to-day was again compelled to issue a statement denying French support of the Japanese policy. He said lie was sincerely concerned about the serious repercussions which such unfounded rumours might create in the Far East for the personal security of many innocent men and women.

The New York World Telegram asks in a leading article: "Is Britain backing Japan?" It says: The fears of Americans that the Conservative-controlled British Government would not co-operate in the proposed international economic boycott of Japan were not quieted by Sir John Simon's statement of policy in the House of Commons on Monday evening. The New York Evening Post, on the other hand, expresses . satisfaction with Sir John's statement and adds that the economic boycott idea is quashed. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times comments that Mr. Stimson and the President, Mr., Hoover, have been informed that, there is pressure on the British Cabinet to declare sympathy with Japan and that Mr. MacDonald and Sir John Simon have been resisting this effort. Whether a call for lielp was sent across the waters has not been revealed, but help came to the beleaguered Liberals and Labour members in Mr. Stimson s letter to the Foreign Relations Committee, says the correspondent. Question of Enlarging Navy. A statement to-day by the Naval Committee of the Senate in connection with its favourable report on the Hale Bill appears to give added point to Mr. Stirnson's letter. The committee declares its belief that the enactment of the bill into law will have a stabilising effect on world affairs. Practical necessity demands that, the United States shall lake full advantage of the privileges accorded by the London Treaty. The report further stated that Japan i had approved and appropriated the necesI sary cost of a building programme to bring her navy to full treaty strength by 1956, with the exception of one aircraftcarrier and six destroyers. Testimony given before the committee had shown that the United States Navy was rapidly becoming a navy of obsolete ships.