Japan shipped $415,000,000 in gold and $4,000,000 in silver tothe United States in 1937-38. This brought criticism on the United States for Widing dollar balances to Japan, making it possible for Japan to American war materials. Although it was possibly accidental, observers here regarded it significant yesterday that Mr. Francis B. Sayre, Assistant Secretary of State, was selected to hand the abrogation notice io the Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Kensuke Horinouchi.
"Mr. Sayre, it was pointed out, had been appointed U. S. High Commissioner for the Philippines only a few hours earlier and the Philippines are considered as lying in the path of Japan's southward expansion.
Abrogation of the treaty with Japan now removes all doubt regarding the legality of embargoes and other retaliatory measures being considered against Japan by the United States Congress. Previously, the possibility that embargoes might be violations of the Japanese-American treaty had a restraining influence on Congress which has now been given a clear path.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.