JAPAN CENSURED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 81, 29 December 1937, Page 7

JAPAN CENSURED

-Presa Asin.— Copyrlght.)

Militarists Will Hardly Dare Tread on America's Toes ___ a

THE PANAY INCIDENT

(By Telesrauh-

(Eeceived 29, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 28. The Times, in a leading article, says: "The Japanese Government rounded off a fortnight of strenuous apologies by presenting the' American Government with a Note on the Panay sinking which repeats earlier expressions of regret and goes on to say at some length it was all a mistake. "It cannot be said the Japanese explanations though always plausible and sometimes obviously true, are consistently convincing. "The tone of the American acceptance was chilly enough to dispel whatever Japanese hopes there may be that any future incident will only have to be called an accident to be liquidated. After this the militarists, however lightly they may regard the pledged word of the Government they serve, will hardly dare tread on American toes. "The significant point of the Emperor's declaration to the Diet—'Our armies are enhancing their prestige at home and abroad' — is not that he says what is patently untrue about foreign opinion, but that he says what is partly untrue about home opinion. "It would be ridiculous to suppose that with the launehing of a ruthless war of aggression all ideals, all enlightenment and all wisdom suddenly ceased to exist in Japan. " The Manchester Guardian, in a leading article, says; "The sinking of the Panay may have been settled as a diplomatic incident, but it may also be Temembered in history as the turning point in the development of American foreign policy. "President 's Roosevelt's speech at Chicago met with little response. Nothing had then occurred to shock the American people to his realisation of danger, but the message in that speech repeated to-day would have a very different response and it is possible it would be different .again in a few weeks, when in 'every town and village of the Middle West a film depicting the bombing of the Panay has been shown. "Mr Roosevelt will know how to take advantage of this lively emotion, but it is unlikely he will concern himself only with American interests."