AMERICA IN FAR EAST

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21193, 16 August 1940, Page 4

AMERICA IN FAR EAST

The intervention of Admiral Hart on behalf of the United States in the reorganisation of the control of the foreign defence sectors in Shanghai as a result of the withdrawal of British troops may have interesting results. Upon the withdrawal of the British, the Japanese immediately made plans for the control of all the vacated areas, and were no doubt surprised when Mr W. R. Peck, Councillor at the American Embassy at Shanghai, called a meeting of all the defence commanders. He submitted a proposal that United States Marines should take over all the vacated British defence sectors excepting one to the north of Soochow Creek. As far as the outside world has been aware, American influence in the foreign concessions in China has been in eclipse for some time, apparently because of the desire of the United States to avoid dangerous entanglements. Japan had therefore ceased to pay serious heed to American interests in the Far East. She assumed that the withdrawal of British troops from Shanghai was a signal for Japanese forces to move in and assume undisputed control. The position in Shanghai was apparently being repeated on a larger scale throughout the Far East. That the United States should now be showing renewed interest has nonplussed the Japanese and has led to minor diplomatic manoeuvres with regard to the negotiations, from which the United States has emerged so far successfully. America’s naval and military forces in the Far East are not of themselves very influential at the moment, but the maintenance or loss of prestige is of much importance to all the Powers concerned. Foreign representation in China is the medium through which Japan maintains contact with the Western Powers, and submission by the United States in China might powerfully influence Japan’s foreign policy. It need not be assumed that the American action means any drastic immediate development, but the mere fact that the United States is standing its ground and intends to take over the duties evacuated by Britain must have a certain significance to the Japanese Government.