1940-12-13 — Page 31

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 13, 1940.

Page

CHINA MAIL Why The U.S. Fleet Should

WINDSOR HOUSE

THE WAR WORKER

The British Association for Labour Legislation has produced a timely report on welfare and health in relation to war-time hours

Go To Singapore

A Washington View

These same

of the fact

By Joseph G. Harrison

.:

Reprinted from the "Christian

· Bcience - Monitor!!

A Naval View

By Capt. Frederick Oliver, U.S.N., Ret.

tually told the United States to Strait of Sunda. goes through the

it by

of work and output. The appears to-day to have crystal-in Europe would place this coun-awaited an opportunity to assert flung lines of communication that America's Far Eastern policy | Asia and a German-Italian victory For years, Japan has patiently factors, and it is along its far- Government has shown a lised to a point where the country try between the jaws of a totallits dominance over the Western Japan is vulnerable. Disrupt good appreciation of the is prepared to take full economic tarian nutcracker.

Pacific. The recent pact with the them and the Japanese Empire- and belligerent measures against dangers of unrestricted Japan if the latter continues to

Axis power indicates that either will revert to its semi-civilisa- Having received an unpleasant it is convinced that the psycholo- tion of 100 years ago, for and unregulated working encroach u american safely, und dort east July when Great Britain economic condition has forced the materials that enter into present-

upon territory consider- jolt,

gical time has arrived, or its Japan produces few of the raw time, but it is important well-being.

of the Burma Road, the main ble on their nation's future.

country's militant rulers to gam-day requirements. that it should be backed

A number of sources close to side world, the Administration is Chinese trade artery to the out- by an informed and alert the Administration agree that the reported to have decided that its the die appears to be cast. Japan's Americas and local

Japan's line of communication Whatever may be the reason, with the world, except for the public opinion.

White House and State Depart-aid to Britain must go beyond the representative leaders have vir- near-by Asia,

trade with Some employers and in- ment, strongly supported bleeded supplying of arms and must in-

Navy Department, have decided clude 'economic, diplomatic, and, withdraw from deed

The proximity some workpeople that any further Japanese advance if necessary,

participation in of Singapore to this vital trade hardly realise that over-tish East Indies or toward Thai Far East.

toward the Netherlands or Brition with Great

military coopera- any matter in which Japan con- toute has caused

Britain in the siders it has an interest, and now, with great concern the establish- Japan to eye work.can be a national and (Siam) and the British Ma-

unless Japan is willing to submit ment of Britain's magnificent na- . to "loss of face" it must make 'val base in sheltered Seletar Har- disservice. It brings a fall lay states, at whose tip lies the great Singapore naval base, would

Evidence of this cooperation is good its demands,

bour. in the curve of hourly out-be sufficient cause for a complete present in the American embargo

In taking its on the export of iron and steel Japan has either deliberately dis- separate Japan and

recent put and an increase in Anglo-American embargo on all

stand, The 2,500 miles of ocean that scrap to Japan and in the $125,- counted the economic effect of the made Britain's base secure from Singapore sickness, accidents, and trade to and from Japan.

000,000 loan to the Chinese Gov boycott and embargo that can be any serious threat by the Japa- absenteeism. The Govern-

of which actions laid against sources add that ernment, both

coincided with a British announce-

the United nese Navy. In an ment's policy is sound, the Admin that such an embargo ment that the Burma Road would Presidential campaign reducing during the past few years, has effort to States, or has counted on the overcome this handicap, Japan, and it is regrettable that might well lead to war, but that be reopened.

This cooperation the United States to a state of neglected no opportunity of not all its departments are Washington is determined to take was strengthened by the signing lethargy and confusion.

seizing sites of German-Italian-Japanese

where intermediate the risk if it is the only way in acting on it.

bases could be located. First, which Japanese hegemony of the agreement as it emphasised to the As the British Associa-entire western and southern Pact-can people that their one remain-plied by the United States, and Island, which is less than 1,000 Approximately, two thirds of Hainan Island was taken. Later, Administration and to the Ameri- Japan's oil requirements are sup-cams the seizure of Spratly tion's report says, there is the United States will seek ining friend of any strength in the the remainder comes from the miles from Singapore.

fic can be prevented. Meanwhile, all the difference between every way to alleviate Far East-world was the British Empire.

Netherlands. East Indies. ' An embargo on oil from the United Now with one "spurt" and "long-run" ern tension and to convince Ja-

eye on China pan of the grave danger facing it. There is a strong, well-substan- States would have the immediate and the other on Singapore, conditions of production,

tiated belief in authoritative effect of increasing Japan's de- Japan has begun to penetrate

circles, that but we should be careful This sudden hardening of Washington

this mands on the Dutch oil fields, Indo-China. -Should its forces American policy, which during American one might almost call which now divert to Japan only reach Saigon, they will be within not to continue the the more than three years of the it an Anglo-American-policy to an estimated 10 per cent of their 600 miles of Singapore. "spurt" too long. The re-current Sino-Japanese war has ward Japan will be a dynamic output

vacillated between warnings and rather than a static defence of

The United States cannot afford port was that more effec-deplorings, is traceable to the in- American interesis

Any reluctance on the part of to wait. Every wasted day is a in the Far tile Dutch authorities in comply- tragedy. tual steps should be tak-creased resistance of the British East. Persons close to current ing with such demands invites dominated by the British Fleet. The Atlantic is now en to see that the provi-tion of the American people to do which are officially admitted to be have oil. It has failed to interest at Singapore beckoning to Ameri- in Europe, the growing inclina-Anglo-American conversations, invasion, because Japan must A friendly, well-equipped base sions of the Factories Act their part in preserving democracy of the "utmost importance," have Mexico in

and the Administration's recogni-informed "The Christian Science and with California oil no longer matter from attempting to pro- supplying its needs, cah, ships, is an entirely different are observed; this means tion that a Japanese victory in Monitor" that American use of available, Japan an increase in the number

naval bases

turn to ject, a hazardous," exhausting Borneo.

campaign across the wide Pacific of inspectors and also in Australian, started this throughout the Pacific Ocean

already determined upon.

to arrive at a port which must be their firmness

Japan has long been 'credited seized and made secure as a base of resis- sodality in 1926 by plac-

with designs upon these fabul-from which our fleet can operate, tance.

ing hundreds of messages

Since American use of the Sin-ously rich islands, and no doubt

A heavy force of United States The Minister of Labour in many languages in gapore base, which high Navy ofis prepared to include them in the

ficials have said unofficially can "new order in Greater East Asia" ships at Singapore would threaten has shown his concern for glass bottles and scatter- become as important to American just as soon as the necessary in one end of Japan's 2,500-mile welfare and

deserves ing them, a few at a time,defence as are the Hawaiian Is-cident" can safely be contrived. line, of, communications through

lands, is included in this agree-

the South China Sea to such an every support in his ef- from the deck of a ship on ment, the scope of the new Anglo-in home waters and outlying to concentrate its feet in that Japan, behind 'its fortifled bases extent that Japan would have forts to get decent mess-its way from Vancouver American cooperation can be real-islands, occupies a superb post-area of else withdraw.

fised. rooms and canteens and to Sydney. The member-

tion defensively. However, it is strategically for Of increasing importance in poorly located to encourage communal ship grew among the

If such a concentration is "ef- State Departipient

an offensive cam- fected, Japan's long line of com carrying out and It is to be hop- people who found the bot- House deliberations on the

White paign, and is feeding.

now engaged in munication will be inadequately Fár making a desperate effort to ra- guarded elsewhere, ed that the

and will be appointment ties and read and replied East is the voice of the Navy De-medy this defect. of his welfare officers will to the messages therein predictions as to Japan's Far East- partment, whose long-standing

open to disrupting raids by crui- sers operating from Manila, Họng In any campaign in the West-Kong, and Hawaii, not be delayed. The report contained. Answers came ern intentions are now being ern Pacific, the lines of com-

are the has some sensible remarks from all quarters of the borne out. Thus the public state-munication

controlling In the past, Japan received ments of active or retired Navy

every consideration by the United on billeting conditions, globe, and took months oficials are now being carefully

States Government. · Now that which require far more at-and sometimes years to studied in Washington.

ceeding months saw popular and Japan, of its own accord, has esk- tention than they have arrive.

Congressional agitation for an em-ed for a showdown, the United As long ago as last April, when bargo upon Japan, which culmi-States should immediately place yet had. As the new mu- From a casual bottle- there was little evidence that the inated in the dramatic announce the needed "force" at Singapore

was abrogating the peace.

British air and

is

must

nition factories come into dropping concern the In- end of its patience with Japan, ed States

Administration was nearing the ment in July, 1939, that the Unit- to insure that Japan keeps the

that ness to do so.

China has never

work the problem will be-ternational Bottle Club Rear Admiral Joseph K. Taussig, American-Japanese Trade Trea-

The tremendous advantage 'come urgent. A further has become a systematis-a departmental authority of arty, thus opening the way for eco-gained from taking the initiative

Eastern Affairs, told the Senate nomic sanctions against Japan. useful point made is the ed business. The members Naval Affairs Committee that "I

has long been a well-recognised demand that the Board of collect thousands of cold carinot see how we can escape be-

principle of war, and the present Further evidence of American iconflict has forcibly illustrated Education shall under-bottles and hand them forced into eventual war (with displeasure with the course of Ja- the disastrous results that come

(Japan) by the present trend of panese aggression came when the from failing take an inquiry into the over to

to seize and hold nassengers on events."

United States placed a "moral" the initiative. The United States embargo on the shipment of aero-now has an opportunity for ex- -employment of children long-distance ships, with This statement takes on added planes to Japan and with the re-ercising the initiative. Japan has of school age since the requests to drop them interest when compared with a fusal of the Maritime Commission gambled on Americtin unwilling- war and stiffen its restric-over the side at speci-recent declaration by Rear Ad- to charter oil tankers to

miral Harry E. Yarnell, retired, country. An embargo upon the tions. This is bound up, fied points in the jour former commander of the Aslatle export of aviation gasoline and of Japan is definitely on the move, however, with the general ney, as far as possible Fleet, that war between the Unit- the necessary tetraethyl for mak and has never shown any in question of compulsory from land. Records of the ukely Simflat sentiments have not until the joint Anglo-Ameri- itiative. Twice, Japan has struck ed States and Japan appears "very ing it also followed. But it was clination to avoid taking the in- school attendance on answers received to the been expressed by Admiral Wil-can action of embargding Ameri- first and declared war afterward, which so far the Board bottle messages are col- liam H. Standley, retired, former can iron and steel scrap and the and its present long-drawn-out

chief of Naval Operations, who British reopening of the Burma contest with has pursued such a spine-lated and passed round, feels that the United States should Road that Tokyo became convin- been designated a war. less policy.

and the general idea is take strong and immediate econo-ced that a real change might be In Indo-China, Japan already is within bombing distance of the that the curious hobby mic action against Japan.

| Burma Road. If the United may one day provide valu- The present crystallisation of At present the United States States waits longer, it may be THE BIGGER BOTTLE able information as to the America's policy toward Japan; Government is making a minute too late. With Japan, strongly while flowering during the past survey of the effect which an entrenched in Indo-China-ind CLUB

drift of world ocean cùr- few months, has roots that go over-all American, and an An the Netherlands Eaht Indles ho rents and the direction of back for several years. Many per-glo-American, embargo would initiative will have passed,

sons in Washington assert that the have upon Japan. The suppression of se- winds. Some of the bot-first Inkling of this policy was stood that particular attention is hand

It is under beyond recall, from American and Singapore will veral London bottle clubs tles have tortuous and given by President Roosevelt in being given to the question of have become a liability Instead of an asset. The American fleet provides an appropriate long voyages; one, drop his famous quarantine the ag-American silk purchases from Ja- should be at Singapore before the

gressors" speech of October, 1937: pan. opportunity to mention ped by a Japanese Bottle This speech was followed a few

United States.. places an embargo Son oil to Japan. Every day of the existence of an Inter-Club member near Kam-months later by the dispatch to. Thus, while it seems improbable delay gives Japan more oppor-..

London of a secret Navy Depart that strong Joint Anglo-American tuility to strengthen its position national Bottle Club, chatka, arrived three ment: emissary whose Job It was action can be expected if Japan in the South China Sea whose members are not in years later at Chile, and to explore the possibility of Ah-confines its activities to the The opinions of the above ar

Rlo-American cooperation in the Chinese mainland, it is believed ¤ticle are those of the writer and the least interested in messages thrown over- Far East.

certainty that this country is pre- not to be construed as reflecting, drinking. A certain Co-board at Alaska have Although nothing much came of pan moves much further to the mont or of the naval service at

pared to talco strong steps if Ja- the views of the Navy Depart Ionel Edward P. Balley, an turned up in Australia. these two developments, the sue mouth or the south-west...... argo.1

qt hand.