THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 23, 1941.
CHINA MAIL
WINDSOR HOUSE
JAPAN'S PROBLEM
Events in Russia plain- ly raise difficult problems in strategy and diplomacy for Japan. As never before since this war began, Hit- ler's power and prestige is at issue, and already 'there is a strong and growing body of opinion which, if it is not prepar- ed to agree that Hitler lost the war the day he order- ed the blitzkrieg against Moscow, feels that fai- lure to break through in ten or fourteen days spell the doom of the whole enterprise, no matter what victories he may now snatch. It follows then that continued active partnership with! an ally whose future power is deeply jeopar dised must be a matter for anxious study by the new Cabinet, though nothing in Ministerial statements since announcement of the new personnel has justified the conclusion that any substantial with- drawal from earlier policy is at present contemplat- ed. On the contrary, it has been the purpose of the Konoye Cabinet to give the impression that noth- ing has changed but the driving force, and that the tempo of action is to be speeded up.
For
A NEW PIECE ON THE BOARD
The First Americans &
successfully dispute, that the for- eign policy of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Monroe was not one bit more isolationist ог non-interventionist than the policy of Roosevelt, Willkie and AL LTHOUGH there are same whether Spain had really sur Hull. The two policies are the who think it far-fetched and rendered and was collaborating | same policy-the historic Ameri- meddlesome for the United States with the revolutionary conqueror.can policy since the foundation of
same an interest But by September of the
the Republic. It is that the terri- government to take
the British were in the fate of the French, Spanish year
telling tories affecting our vital interests and Portuguese empires. they: Rufus King that there "could be must not pass from the control of would not think so if they had no doubt that France had obtain-friendly and pacific natio:s into studied American history.
of the Fored a cession"
the control of aggressive and ex- panding empires, and that to pre- vent this happening we are pre- pared "to marry ourselves to the British fleet and nation" because this means "the union of two nations who, in conjunction, can maintain exclusive possession of the ocean."
Their Policy
the
*
**
Louisiana
about
to
the
we!
the moment, no
the line of policy an uneed by territory and King was saying in safe prediction can be the President DI May 28, and London that we should be un- that Louisiana should 'made as to what that now being followed by Secretary willing
Hull in his negotiations, was in pass into the hands of new pro- might mean interpreted fact maugurated under President |prietors."
of into terms Far East John Adams and while Washing-
ton was still alive. In 1798 dur- Shortly after this, by a secret strategy. For manying the wars of revolutionary im-treaty signed October 1, 1800,
question
did cede Louisiana arese Spain months Japan has been perialism
There has been no change what- which has now, with Hitler's Napoleon, though for more than a
ever in the principles of American poised to strike in the Germany in place of Napoleonic year this was stoutly denied by
foreign policy. If in 1802 arisen ugain: it was the Spanish and the French. The
could not allow revolutionary southward direction, at- France,
States cuntinued to learned that conquering France United
France to control the mouth of the tracted by the promise of! was about to gain control of the negotiate with Great Britain and Mississippi, if in 1823 we could
Spanish
taken empire the position
not allow Russia to control the rich spoil in the raw mat- weakly held
western coast of Canada or the erials which could be ob- which then included the Louisiana Spanish possessions was identical territory, Florida. Central and
European quadruple alliance to reconquer Central and South tained in the Dutch East South America.
America, then The news was communicated on
how can it be Indies and Malaya, re- February 15, 1798, by Lord Gren-
argued by Col. Lindbergh that in, strained by considerationville to Rufus King, the United
1941 we are more aggressive than in London, say- States Minister of the risks of a war with ng as King reported, it, that "if
Hitler because we say that Hitler shall not control the islands of the Atlantic and the west coast Great Britain, possibly Spain should be able to preserve
of Africa? The distance in time also the United States.
from Washington to New Orleans in 1801, or from Chicago to South Japan's imperialists, Great Britain would let the Span-
ish empire alone; "but if it was with that which Americans have America in 1823, was very much both in and out of
taken in
to regard really to be apprehended Spain now
thegreater than the distance to-day the Azores or the Cape uniform, paint an allur- should fall beneath the control of French, Spanish and Portuguese from
France," then the British govern- possessions in the Western Hemis-Verde Islands or Casablanca or ing picture of a Japanese ment "would endeavour to pre-phere or confronting it, and in re- Dakar to any part of the Ameri- can continent. I have myself Empire, enlarged, rounded vent France from gaining to their gard to the control of the seas.
.cause the resources of South The policy was formulated by talked recently with a Canadian out and made impregn- America" and would "immediate-President Jefferson in his instruc- newspaper man who had dinner
their views and com- tion of April 18, 1802, to Living-in Montreal
her independence and prevent a revolution in her government,".
By Walter Lippmann
and breakfast
in
of the Lind="
able by the acquisition of ly cpen
mence a negotiation upon the ston, the United States Minister England, having crossed the At the Dutch East Indies, subject with the United States." in Paris: "The cession of Louisiana |lantic in a bomber. Yet we are There was some doubt then, as and the Floridas by Spain to asked to believe that Jefferson;| with their riches in rub-
there is now about Vichy, as to France works most sorely on the who was aroused about French). ber, tin, many tropical
United States." New Orleans, he control of New Orleans, and Mon- from a military pointed out, is one of the gate-rae and Jefferson, ⠀ who were: products and that com-even
ways to our territory: "France, aroused about the control of fär- modity which is more pre- standpoint, of cutting off placing herself in that door, as off South America, would to-day! cious than gold in a world all sources of supply ex-sumes to us the attitude of de be unconcerned at the prospect flance Spain might have retained of having Hitler established half. in regions it quietly for years.. These of force; oil. Malaya also cept those
way across the Atlantic, K contains tin mines and which are under Japan-circumstances render it impos- The truth is that those who rubber plantations, along ese military control. They sible that France and the United appeal to the fathers of the Re-
States can continue long friends public in support with iron. And the Philip- point out that an attack when they meet in so irritable a bergh propaganda are misrepre
position.
The day that senting totally the principles and pines, which could scarce- on Singapore, or on any
The first American ly remain outside the of the British, Dutch and Japanese orbit if Malaya American strongholds in and the East Indies the South Pacific bristles should fall, contain large with difficulties: reserves of iron and man-
And they are the type of together with difficulty that will not be ganese, their sugar and coconut modified in Japan's fav plantations.
our if, as seems more and Japanese moderates, more likely, Hitler be- and a few of these moder- comes as effectively bog ates are in the Army and ged down in Russia as Navy, stress the danger, Japan is in China.
France takes possession of New the actions: of the fathers of the Orleans fixes the sentence which Republic. is to retain her forever within statesmen were not pacifists. They her low-water mark. It seals the were not isolationists. They were union of two nations who, in con-not neutrals. They had not been junction, can maintain exclusivo afraid to fight against England but possession of the ocean. From helther were they in the slightest that moment we must marry our afraid to say that they would, if solves to the British fleet and American interests were threat- nation.. This is not a state of ened, fight along with England.
quite things we sock or desire. It is one Thus Is may be said, which this measure, If adopted by literally and seriously, that though France, forces on us as neces- dies present foreign policy of the sarlly, as any other cause, by the United States government is not laws of nature, brings on its in accord, with the views of the necessary effects."
America First Committee, it is strictly in 'accord with the prin- Thus it is a fact, which no ciples and the practice of the first) student of American history can American..