'These excuses, however, are me valid for the airmen who took off From bases where relevant infor~ motion was available and' who indiscriminately bombed foreign shipping, and power-dived within a shari distance of the American flag painted on the USS. Panay's deck, Tt would be dificult, "The Times" continues, to decide which was more discreditable to the Japanese Air Forco—the assumption that they did not know what they were doing, oF the assumption that they did.
The past months have provided scores of eases of Japanese irres~ ponsibility, the journal says. All of them have been on the "same bland, formal pattern of outrage, apology, outrage."
No plea of mere technical miscalculation can exonerate the bomb-ra and batteries which went Tiverately into action against British and American warships during this week-end, The sinking of the Panay und it fallen dant incidents, "The declares, are an indelible stain on the honour of a Power whose armed forces once boasted a peerless The fact, the newspaper continues, that the American Government are assessing the situation calmly and deliberately does not mean that they are any less concerned than their shocked public over a serious, wanton affront to their national prestige.
America sometimes seems inclined to underestimate her interests in the Far East, which are at present smaller materially, psychologically and strategically than Great Britain's, "The Times" asserts.
America's destinies, however, are far more closely linked with China's than are the British, for she faces Eastern Asia across 'a sea whose dimensions virtually contract with every stride in scientific invention..
At present Great Britain's inferest are the same, the journal concludes, and America, which for the moment the nation most directly aggrieved, can unquestionably count and rely on Britain's support in any action she may be called on to. take-Reuter.
Naval Demonstration, London, Dec. 14.
The possibility of a Joint Anglo American naval demonstration tthe China seas as a result of Japanese bombings of American and British warships was seen to-day by London newspapers, The diplomatic editor of the "Daily Herald" understood that the demonstration has been considered and may be the subject of further discussion during the next few days. After further consultation, a joint 'Anglo-United States note' or two identical sternly worded Notes will sent to Japan, the editor said.
"The two governments are considering stipulating a time limit in which reparations must be made and adequate guarantees given against repetition of the attacks," it was stated.
The "Daily Express" also reported that discussions were under way between Britain and the United States regarding the possibility of a naval demonstration and added that the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, would recommend, to the Cabinet meeting to-morrow, that Britain join any strong action' that the United Staies' was prepared to take—United Press.
"rimes" on Yangtze "Hooliganism"
London, Dee. 1 The "definite stop" to attacks asked for in the British Note to Japan is chosen for ponderous head~ lines in this morning's newspapers ind "The Times" gives prominence to a dispatch from its special cor~ respondent, Mr, Malcolm MacDonald, who stated that after the USS. Panay was abandoned, she was ma-thine-gunned by two Japanese motorboats, whose crews boarded her.
a leading article, "The Times" suggests that "all this hooliganism" may be the result of a deliberate attempt by responsible military and naval lenders to destroy neutral shipping on the Yangtze, possibly to {est the reactions of the Powers con-corned, as Russia's were tested on the Amur River before the launch-Jing of the North China campaign. -Afier remarking on the studied moderation of the British Note, "The Times" says: "Tokyo will not be far wrong if she detects the scathing implications in it, nor misled if she fatiaches importance to the close Anglo-American ce-operation sur Founding the despatch of both protests.
"The fact that no fewer than thirteen apologies were tendered to Britain and America indicates the state of mind of responsible statesmen in Tokyo," the journal adds, "Responsible Statesmanship"
Some doubt about the existence of responsible statesmanship," it con tinues, "was doubtless the' reason for President Roosevelt's addressing himself to the Emperor, to establish confact with some authority which' would not be ignored, disowned or Mouted with impunity.
"The Army," the journal continues, "has the bit between its teeth.
Japan aims to rape not only the five huorthern provinces, but the whole of China, "Territorial encroachment, however, physically centralizes and morally strengthens the will to resist.
"From Peiping, Nanking and Shanghai, and. probably soon from Canton, the best men and the most ardent patriots are converging into the contracted area which is stilt intoso;-all have hilter memories, "Japan's leaders have, set the nation a task whose dimensions they "The Times Tells Vivid Story London, Dec. 18.
A three-column despatch " from Shanghai, appearing in "The Times"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.