EVASIVE REPLY WASHINGTON

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 74, 20 December 1937, Page 7

EVASIVE REPLY WASHINGTON

-Press Assn.-

ATTACK ON PANAY American Indignation Is Roused ROOSEVELT DETERMINED

(Bv Telegraph-

-Copyright.)

(Eeceived 20, 8.45 a.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 18. The United States seethes with conjectures as to what action the Government is contemplating if the expected xeply from Japaut is deemed unsatisfactory. Public indignation has mounted due to the prominent displays in the newspapers of eye-witnesses' accounta of the boarding and bombing of ^ the Panay. In this American and British •writers are agreed regarding the essential facts, leaving no doubt as to the deliberate character of the attack. Despite official denials, the feeling persists that the Administration is planning a naval demonstration in the Orient. Even such newspapers as the Kew York Times continue to insist on such action as a likelihood. The intensity of the situation is inereased by Press reports from Tokio to the effect that a struggle is raging in innermost Japanese Government circles between the civil and military factions, with Mr. Hirota, Foreign Minister, waging a lone battle to obtain further eoncessions to the TJnited States. The American public is unlikely to be satisfied with any evasive and ineomplete reply to President Koosevelt's demands. Reports from Nanking of wholesale Japanese atrocities and vandalism are fanning the general resentment. Eesponsible Washington officials deelared that President Eoosevelt is determined to obtain definite and concrete Japanese guarantees against future attacks on United States ships and citizens in Ghina before closing the Panay incident. Dependable Guarantees. Official dispatches from American Government representatives in China are confirming in detail eye-witnesses ' accounts from newspapermen concerning the attack. Hence the officials atate that, due to such dispatches giving more and more grounds for official suspicion that the attack "was more deliberate than accidental, the position of the United States Government has now passed beyond demands for xecord•d apologies and reparations. Meanwhile the administration is teeking a more responsible authority than the Japanese civilian Government to underwrite such guarantees in accordance. with the strong indications from Mr. Cordell Hull, who, with other officials, expressed the belief that past experience has demonstrated the complete inability of the Japanese civilian Government to control the military and naval forces or to give dependable guarantees of their future actions. It was with these conditions in mind tliat President Eoosevelt bluntly requested that his views should be communicated direct to the Emperor of Japan. No Naval Demonstration. White House has announced that no naval demonstration is planned in con--nection with the sinking of the Panay. The secretary, Mr. Stephen, said that whatever arrangements have been made for the fleet manoeuvres were drawn up long before the incident. He declared: "President Eoosevelt is extremely gratified with the attitude the nation and Press have taken in connection with thb sinking of the Panay." Interest continues to be concentrated on Mr. Ludlowis amendment proposing a plebiscite before the declaration of war. President Eoosevelt, at a Press conference, when asked whether he thought a national referendum on war was consistent with a representative form of government, uttered an emphatic "No," but declined further to comment. Eepresentative Allen introduced a resolution to appropriate 600,000 dollars to evacuate Americans from China. He said that 6000 still remained and were unable to leave for financial reasons.