THE WAY PAVED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 24, 28 July 1939, Page 9

THE WAY PAVED

FURTHER ACTION

MUNITIONS EMBARGO

EXECUTIVE SUPPORT?

(By Telagrapli—JTcsa Association—Copyright.» NEW YORK, July 26. The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times," in reporting that the United States Government had renounced the 1911 commercial treaty with Japan, said: "While six months must elapse before abrogation under the terms of the treaty, the way is paved for action o» Senator Pittman's resolution of July 17 for the application of an embargo against Japan on arms, munitions, and essential war materials such as iron and steel.

"When the Senate Foreign Relations Committee decided today to postpone action on a resolution by Senator Vandenberg to abrogate the treaty, President Roosevelt and the Secretary of State, Senator Cordell Hull, decided-to act forthwith. They appeared to think that further delay might be taken by Japan as evidence of timidity or divided counsels between the executive and legislative branches of the Government. IMPLICATIONS OF DECISION. "The implications of Mr. Roosevelt's \ action are that the executive is behind the Pittman embargo resolution; it signifies that the United States is prepared to follow the infringement by Japan of her rights In the Far East with retaliatory action: It declares to Japan and the world that whereas Britain, by the recent agreement over the issues In Tientsin, may have receded, such Is not the course of the United States.

"It means that it Japan, by the present campaign of face-slapping of Americans by her soldiers In China, is deliberately seeking to make! the United States lose face in the FatEast, the entire Orient might-as well know that the United States intends to assert its prestige vigorously and meet Japan with the only language its militarily-dominated Government understands " "BETTER SAFEGUARDING OF INTERESTS." A Note has been handed simultaneously to the Japanese Ambassador in Washington and the Foreign Office in Tokio It is only 250 words long, and mokes no mention of the situation in China, but stresses that the United States in recent years has been examining the treaties of commerce and navigation between the United States and foreign countries "with -3 view to determining what changes may need to be made towards better serving the' purpose for which such treaties are concluded." The Note, however, significantly adds that the abrogation is aimed towards preparing the way for new consideration of the treaty "with a view to better safeguarding and promoting American interests' as new developments may require." The 1011 treaty contains the usual clauses concerning rights of residence, legal protection for nationals, and rights of consuls and shipping, io-

gether with the most-favoured nation clauses. Perhaps the most Important of these is a clause which not only gives both countries tariff protection but alsc provides against special import or export embargoes against one or other of the two countries. SURPRISE ACTION, The abrogation of the treaty came with great suddenness and was apparently unknown till the last minute to all but a few of the most important figures in the Government. While Mr. Cordell Hull had consulted with President Roosevelt at the White House during the day, Mr. Hull would only say that they' "had discussed a variety of matters."

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee had spent the day discussing the resolution ,by ~ Senator Vandenberg, and came to no conclusion on whether to out-vote it, but decided to discuss the matter further during the week. The Anglo-Japanese agreement, however, appears to have given the whole matter new urgency, though some of the senators, notably Senator Borah, advised that it should be more carefully studied because of the AngloJapanese agreement.

The "New York Times" correspondent telegraphs that it had been ex* pected among Administration officials that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would act on the. Vandenberg proposal today. "The officials would have been receptive to an expression of opinion -in view of the diplomatic retreat by Britain before Japan and the latest incidents of Japanese soldiers slapping the faces of Americans in China, presumably in a calculated effort ordered from above to bring America into disrepute in the Far East," the correspondent stated. HOPED TO KEEP ACTION j ■ SECRET. | Later, when it became known that! the Government had abrogated the 'treaty, there appeared to be considerable confusion in the State Department, which apparently wished the fact to be kept a secret till all details ior publication could be decided with Tokio. Senator Pittman, who is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last night had pledged his support for the resolution. It was believed that the Senate, by adopting the resolution, would clarify the legal obstacles to his own move for an arms embargo.

Senator Pepper said that the manhandling of Americans in China and other incidents were causing a steadily rising tide of resentment. Over 75 per cent, of the people were hi favour of immediate embargo legislation against Japan.