THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 24, 1938.
UNITED STATES SCEPTICAL OF MR. HIROTA'S MODERATION Assurances Taken In Washington "With All Reserve"
Where Question Mark Comes
Washington, To-day.
The moderation of Mr. Koki Hirota's speech in the Diet on Saturday, with its pledge of con- tinuance of the open door in China, has been duly noted by official Washington.
If scepticism regarding the course of Japan's po- licy in China is not thereby removed, and the keenness of the United States' watch on the Yangtse not relaxed, it is because of fear, bas- ed on past experience, that Japan's real policies are too often improvised by her forces in China.
Consequently, Mr. Hirota's assurances are received
in Washington with all reserve.
Certain tendencies are here to read into Mr. Hirota's speech, firstly, continued desire to play off the signatories of the Anti-Red Pact, including Nationalist Spain, against the De- mocracies, and within the Democratic Front to strive to weaken Anglo-American co-operation bý flattering the United States at Britain's expense.
-U.S. AND
JAPANESE ENCROACHES
Washington, To-day. The
representations made to the Japanese Government, by the Ambassador in United States Tokyo,, Mr. Joseph Grew, in con- nection with Japanese entry into American property in Nanking, have caused general approval here.
Otherwise there is no reaction, and it is understood that Wash- ington will continue to leave to diplomats on the spot, handling. of situations arising from any fur- ther encroachments.Reuter.
PASSING OF LORD GISBOROUGH
London, To-day.
occurred yesterday of Lord Gis-
The death
FIGHTING FOG ON THE RAILWAYS. The G.W.R. have intro- duced Automatic Train Control which has the effect of guiding the engine driver when in thick fog. Electric rails connected with the signal cabin have been installed on over 2,000 miles of line. A shoe suspended under the engine picks up sound waves, from the ramp and sent out by the sign- alman.
If the signal is at "clear" a bell ringa by the driver's side in his cab, if at "danger" a siren blows and brakes are automatically applied throughout the train. Photo shows the electric shoe under the engine making contact with the ramp. (Fox Copyright).
the
Secondly, Mr. Hirota's conten- tion that in spite of the sinking of the Panay, Japan-American relations have suffered no im- pairment, is regarded as a piece of over-optimism comparable to the phantasies which the Japan- the strategic importance of
has been ese press
publishing much discussed highway connec about United States' policy.
tion between Soviet Russia and MR. SAITÖ'S WARNING Northwest China. It is understood that Mr. Saito, Japanese Ambassador in the Unit- ed States, holds no such facile view, and has warned Tokyo urgently of the adverse tide of American opinion.
Thirdly, the suggestion that the Powers should co-operate in an economic aspect in occu- pied China, is interpreted in some quarters as an invitation to provide loans for Japan's protege, Manchukuo in the form of aid to Japan, which the Democracies have already refused to provide.
Briefly, Washington would
wel-
come Mr. Hirota's moderation if it were felt that his words meant real change in Japan's course.
a
But there is no hiding the fact that this is where the question| mark comes.-Reuter.
borough at the age of 82. CHINA'S REAL
4
Richard Godolphin Walmeseley LIFE-LINE IN
Chaloner, Lord Gisborough, en-
tered the Army in 1878, and
served in India and Afghanistan. THE SOUTH
He was adjutant of the North Somerset Yeomanry Cavalry and later commanded the 1st Wilts in South Africa.
The paramount importance of China's various southern routes of communication with the outside the world is pointed out by expert From 1895 to 1900 he represented foreign observers who have just the Westbury Division of Wiltshire arrived in the Colony from in the House of Commons, and was Hankow.
During the War he was in Fourth Reserve Cavalry.
MP for the Abercromby Division They express surprise that ap- of Liverpool from 1910 to 1917-parently public sentiment in the Reuter.
South is inclined to over-estimate.
A sober comparison of the transport possibilities along the Turkestan Urumchi Hami
Lanchow-Sian road which totals 2,400 miles, with the infinitely
· better faculties offered by the var- ious lines linking South and Cen- tral China with adjoining coun- tries, shows apparently which is the real “Chinese life-line.”
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