It seems inevitable that the United States'
Government should regard the latest Japanese Note on the subject of the bombing and sinking of 0.5.5. Panay with some degree of coldness, and read it witl a cool, analytical eye, for the Note takes matters very little further than did a similar document-lodged by Tokyo with the United States on December 14. The issue still remains concerning whether the attack on the gunboat was unintentional or not, though in accepting the Japanese note Washington has closed the matter, leaving no doubt as {o its own opinion. That it was a mistake, and a very grave mistake will at once be conceded, though Washington will find it difficult to reconcile the facts, as reported to it by the Board of Enquiry and the commander of the Panay, with the Japanese claim of absence of intention. On the forward top deck and the after top deck of the craft were painted horizontally two United States flags, eighteen feet long and fourteen feet wide. The aeroplanes attacking the vessel are reported to have come down to within one or two hundred feet of the vessel when dropping their bombs and fusillading it with machineguns, and the United States and the world at large will find it difficult to believe that those operating the aeroplanes were unable to perceive and recognize those indications of the ship's nationality.—Lieut.-Commander Hughes in charge of the Panay reports that the attacks lasted for about an hour and that for the first half of that period "the attacking planes concentrated almost all efforts on the Panay." It must be frankly stated that it is unbelievable that, during the whole of this time, those making the attacks were not fully aware that they were committing an outrage upon an American naval vessel lawfully where she was, The first bombing is admitted to have taken place from a height outside the range of the ship's Lewis guns, but "later, when the Panay was visibly smashed, they came much closer." If the original attack was a mistake and unintentional, can it now be argued that the continuance of such action can similarly be described? If Washington had refused to accept such a story there would be very few indeed who would deny the reasonableness of such a point of view.
The Japanese assurance, that staff members of the fleet, and the commander of the we been dealt with according to law and at the commander of the flying force has been removed from his post and recalled, may have about it a greater significance than occidental observers can readily percei but it would be interesting to learn exactly what punishments are provided by that law and the extent to which those sanctions have been applied in this particular instance. For must be strongly emphasized that unless these officers responsible have been subjected to appropriate punishment mere statements, that steps have been taken to ensure that there shall be no repetition of this incident, will be without that convincing quality which it is apparent from American comment to hand was hoped for. Governments cannot be expected to make such statements to each other officially, but the fact that a number of officers were under arrest with Prospects of their being disciplined is matter of ordinary news value which could be issued to the newspapers and thus to the world at large. Such a step would in no way derogate from national dignity and would be a very valuable contribution to the settlement of this very important and delicate issue. That something of the nature should be done is apparent from the manner in which opinion in the United States has suddenly become crystallized, and while it is not yet solidly for war—and may never be, if such matters are satisfactorily handled—the public attitude has considerably stiffened and may be even stiffer when the people see for themselves the testimony which the gallant American cinematographers are taking there. Should the pictures have the effect upon the public which it is stated the government fears, it is, perhaps, just as well that Washington considers the Japanese reply sufficiently satisfactory to enable it to close the matter in the way it has done, for, had the issue remained open, force of public opinion might have obliged the authorities to go further than they at present contemplate.
While the Japanese Government is handling this delicate matter with Washington and preparing to reply to the latest British Note on the occurrences involving British war vessels in the Yangtze, another incident has arisen in connection with the flight of Japanese aeroplanes over the island of Lantao within the territorial waters of the colony of Hongkong. Tokyo has already been informed that Hongkong territory and its waters must be respected, and the flight now complained of is a clear violation of British rights. It may be argued that this is a small matter, but when the treatment meted out to fliers who without authority have flown over Japan, and the Japanese insistence upon the inviolability of their own boundaries is remembered, the whole question assumes a graver aspect. There should be no attempted explanation of "mistake" on this occasion, for Lantao is large enough to be seen at any height, and aviators who are unable to appreciate all the implications of a map most certainly ought not to be in the air at all. It is but natural that the reports of this incident should have created a very bad impression in London, for it adds another item to the list of unfortunate occurrences which give rise to so much anxiety. If the opinion is strengthening that the Japanese naval and military authorities are endeavouring to find out just how far they can go with America and Great Britain, they are embarking on what might prove to be an exceptionally risky proceeding. Neither of those two countries wish a more serious situation to develop, but, as was pointed out in these columns in Saturday's issue, there are limits to the patience of any nation, and in the recurrence of these incidents an unwarrantably severe strain is being placed upon them. It is reasonable to believe that the Japanese will hold their hand, for they are already involved in matters which will require all their attention for a long time to come.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.