THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 15, 1940.
Big Crisis Looms In Japanese-American Affairs
SURVEY OF APPROACH WAR
U.S. CHINESE
TO
PROBLEMS
London, To-day.
PRINCE PAUL
THE DEVELOPMENT OF American public opinion
in relation to the war was the subject of a talk by AT CROAT Mr. Raymond Gram Swing, the noted American commentator, which was recorded direct from CAPITAL the United States on Saturday and broadcast yesterday.
After President Roosevelt's recent speech, he said, the development to watch for was the public reaction to what he said, for it contained one or two more important ideas and if these roused any great opposition one would know what to expect.
are
President Roosevelt's first conception | had time to thresh things out and was that the American people bound to be affected by the outcome of the war in Europe and must also have a part in the peace.
come to a sort of agreement.
Fourteen of the 18 members of the round-table accepted a statement on the following lines:--
BELGRADE, TO-DAY.
AND YONAI CABINET
THE NEW JAPANESE CABINET UNDER ADMIRAL M. YONAI IS LIKELY TO MEET WITH THE FATE OF THE ABE CABINET IN OPINION OF THE LOCAL CHINESE PRESS.
The "Ta Kung Pao" points out that whenever a new Japanese cabinet has been formed in recent years at a time of acute friction, the Japanese ruling class has invariably selected its premier from the Navy as a check to the Army.
However, Admiral Yonai is far be- hind Admirals Saito and Okada, who headed the Japanese Government be- PRINCE PAUL, REGENT OF YU-fore, in ability as well as in prestige. GOSLAVIA, PAID AN OFFICIAL Conditions in Japan to-day are worse VISIT TO THE CROAT CAPITAL than those six or seven years ago. ZAGREB, YESTERDAY, ACCOM- Consequently, the new Yonai Cabinet PANIED BY THE PRIME MINISTER may be even more short-lived AND ENGAGED IN FRIENDLY DIS the Abe Cabinet, because the Japan
ese political structure is already irre- CUSSIONS WITH DR. MATCHER,trievably on the way to collapse.
THE CROAT LEADER.
In a speech from the balcony of the palace, Prince Paul declared that the Yugoslavian peoples, the Serbs, Slo- venes and Croats were now united and would work together. This unity meant that they were nationally pre- pared for anything that might happen in the future.-Reuter.
AT STAKE IN
THE WAR
(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL")
Admiral Yonal is hardly a
than
The "National Times” says that powerful and competent statesman. Although of supported by the junior officers the Navy, he is not on good terms with the diplomats and the Army and has no connections whatsoever with the political parties. It is questionable that he will succeed, in stabilizing po- litical conditions in Japan. Further- more, it is doubtful whether he will be able to dispose of the China war where previous Japanese Cabinets have failed.
There are two schools of thought in The round-table believe that if 'America, Mr. Gram Swing went on, the war in Europe results in a the first believes that the United States German victory or a social revolu- cannot live a life of peace except as tion, It will seriously injure the
The "Lih Pao" is of opinion that a member of the world at large, while welfare of the American people;
the present difficulties of the Japanese the second believes that the United
If the war in Europe leads the people
Government do not lie in its person- "States is sufficiently self-suffieing and | of Europe to adopt a totalitarian syst
nel problem but in its policy. If the its place in the Western Hemisphere | tem, and the United States became
VERDUN, TO-DAY. policy of aggression in China is not so secure that it would be a grave | the one remaining democracy in a IN A SPEECH ON THE OCCASION | altered, whoever becomes premier will mistake ever again to be involved in totalitarian world, it would live un- OF THE DECORATION OF GEN-be just as helpless as his predeces- European or Asiatic conflicts.
der the fire of attack from without ¦ ERAL · CARENCE AND GENERAL | sors.-Central News. and subversive propaganda from with- | BELHAYE ·WITH THE MILITARY in, and might develop a native totalf- | MEDAL FOR VALOUR, PRESIDENT tarianism of its own;
LEBRUN STATED. THAT THE PRE- American military commitments | SENT WAR WAS NO LONGER A would be increased by the success of MERE MATTER OF ALTERATION Germany in sinking or acquiring the | OF FRONTIERS DEMARCATED British Navy, or the success of Japan | THROUGH PAST INJUSTICES. in China.
When the President came out with the doctrine of one school, it was to be expected that the other school would challenge him and make it a major issue; the consequent public reaction would provide a good estimate of Am. erican opinion.
-
NOT CHALLENGE
But the speech was not really chal- lenged, and no major disagreement was voiced. The message was taken as
NO TO COME IN
"The stake is greater. It is a ques- tion of triumph of civilisation over savagery; - of-right-over-force.
"Civilisation cannot perish. Taught The round-table rejected participa-by experience and in agreement with tion in the present war under the cir-
out gallant British Allies, we are de- cumstances now visible, but also re-termined to lay the bases of just, a whole and won the widest approval.jected the abandonment of United lasting peace in which the world can 'Although there was a negative reac-
States' world position through the finally resume the course of its peace- tion, it did round. sut the importance surrendering of neutral rights or ac-
ful destiny." Havas, of the message of the President It-quiescence in Japan's aggression on self.
Such a message should be com- pared with earlier ones, At the out- break of the war, the President spoke to the country by radio from the White House, in which he said that even a neutral has the right to take account of the facts and even a neutral cannot be asked to close his mind or his conscience.
TANGIBLE DEVELOPMENT. In his message to Congress last week, the President stressed that there is a vast difference between keeping | out of war and pretending this war Mis: none of our business.”
One could see the difference be- tween these two statements, and one could sense a quite tangible development. American opinion `has developed less rapidly than it would have if the war had been more intense to date, but here is of a tripening of thought and judgment.
There is, Mr. Gram Swing went on, nothing harder than to try and draw up a statement of public opinion which even approximately represents the opinion of a nation of 130,000,000 peo- ple. Most of them do not think that is, they do not think ahead, they res- pond.
ROUND TABLE TALK
But a round-table conference was recently called by the magazine "For- tune." Its members were chosen from all walks of life-a businessman, labour leader, a retired naval expert, a contractor, and so on. These men
China.
The round-table was of the opinion the United States should refuse to recognize the Japanese "Now Order in Asia,” and should help China (by embargoes against Japan or Government ald to China).
It approved American participation
in organizations for peace. It then went on to deal with domestic pro-
blems.
Here are the views of 14 men, Mr. Gram Swing continued.. One man be- lieved the United States should ex- tend active aid to the Allies. One be- lieved Communism is closer in a long war and that the United States should induce the belligerents to stop fight- ing, or else prepare to meet the de- bacle alone.
TYPICAL THOUGHT This is a presentation of typical American, thought he went on. The general impression is that the United States is bound to be affected by the war and believes in the same princi- ples as the Allies, but does not come to the conclusion that the United States should now enter the war.
"it" doas not take much wiadom to know that a-free people do not go to war unless and until they have to, he continued. . English- men can look back on develop- ments in Europe and know, how (true that ins
In 13 days, time, the trade agreement
ween the United States au xpires. On that day, the whol
|
question of United States policy in the Far East comes to a head. The United States can then apply an em- bargo on supplies to Japan and is in a position to negotiate for better con- ditions in China.
The opinion of the round-table was
EUROPEAN'S BAIL ESTREATED
Stewart Charles Coultro, described as attached, to the s.s. Fau Sang, was alleged to have been drunk and dis- orderly in the Central Police Station yesterday.
This morning he failed to appear at the Central Magistracy
and had his bail of $25 estreated.
Inspector Hallam appeared for the Police.
INTERNEES APPEAR IN COURT
Thirty-seven internees taken into custody following the riot in the Argyle Street Camp, made their ap-
against acquiescence in the "Japanese pearance this morning before Mr. E Himsworth and were charged with New Order in China" and the Ameri-behaving in a riotous manner. can Government has so far shown no
signs of compromise or a desire to make things easier for the Japanese Army in China.
;
SILENT PRESSURE
They were remanded for 48 hours at the request of Inspector H. E Rogers.
BRITAIN'S SECRET
SERVICE
Indeed, the recent letter of Mr. Henry Stimson, advocating the stop- ping of supplies to Japan; the resolu- tion of the Senate Foreign Relation committee calling for an embargo; The "Deutsche Allgemeine Zeltung" and the Navy's declared intention of devotes a 1,500-word article to a dis- improving Guam, and the increases-cussion of the methods of the British its origins in the Navy itself all are silent Secret Service, tracing
The pressure on Japan.
from the time of Edward III. writer warns his readers of the po- wer of such departments as "M.1.8.”. and urges them to preserve the utmost caution in conversation.
It is clear that a crisis of the first magnitude is coming in the relations between the United States and Japan.
Concluding, Mr. Gram Swing said that the most significant event of the past fortnight has been the- quiet ac- ceptance by the people of the United States that their country must have a part in the new
** This did not mean they felt it should Impose peace, but beginning to recognise their country responsibility in the Peace to Reuter
Inspector L R. Whant, of the Po- lice, has reported a collision with car No. 5946, in Playing Field Road near- Nathan Road - yesterday. No person was injured in the incident.
of-Diocesan
Glothing to the value of $80 stolen from Boy's Schoo
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