AMERICAN VIEWS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19999, 26 July 1939, Page 5

AMERICAN VIEWS

“UNJUST GAMBLING” “BETRAYAL” OF RIGHTS BRITAIN NOT HELPED BLIND EYE TO FAR EAST (Eloc. Tel. Copyright— United Press Assn.) ORccd. July 20, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, July 25. Commenting on the Anglo-Japan-ese agreement, the New York Herald - Tribune says: "There will be much unjust grumbling in the United States about the betrayal o£ the white man’s rights and also China’s rights under international guarantees. "It must be remembered, however, that such grumbling will come with poor grace from this country, which has given Britain absolutely no encouragement to defend those treaty rights with which ours are bound up, or reason to believe we would champion our common rights if the European situation were abruptly to demand the concentration of all Britain’s strength o n her own doorstep. If file agreement leads directly to the serious discomfiture of our people in China, we must reflect that the Administration has studiously kept a blind eye to the Far East.” "Belligerent Rights" The New York Times comments: "Britain has virtually granted belligerent rights to a nation which has not declared war. The Japanese have scored a diplomatic victory. If they declared war,- the United States, one of the principal sources of sup ply, would be bound to clap down the arms embargo. Through the British concession, it is now enjoying the best of both worlds. “It is unfortunate that Mr. Chamberlain's two statements in the House of Commons (on the Tokio agreement and Mr. Hudson’s peace plan) had to coincide. Signs of yielding on one’ front to strengthen another are understandable, but signs of yielding on two fronts are disquieting.” No Similar Agreement Tlie consensus of opinion in Washington is that the United States does not intend to make an agreement similar to that between Britain and Japan. It is stated that American policy will continue unchanged, although the situation will be studied carefully .to see what Japan’s attitude to foreign interests will be now.

Senator Hiram Johnson commented: "If the United States had followed Britain’s Far East policy we would have been left holding the bag. The situation parallels that when Mr. H. L. Stimson endeavoured to halt Japan’s conquest of Manchukuo.”