It is possible to argue," the editorial proceeds, "as the Japanese, themselves, pretend, that these unfortunate happenings are merely accidents that are inevitable in a war of such size "This would be more convincing the Japanese Government still professed its respect for the, policy of the Open Door, but even this is no longer true," says the newspaper.
In this connection, the "Manchester Guardian" recalls a passage in the broadcast by the Japanese Premier, Prince Konoye, at the beginning of November, as a "highly sinister statement" to anyone who has some understanding of Japanese phraseology.
The editorial adds that the statement is interesting because it is echoed again, "only more bluntly," in the reply of Mr. Hachiro Arita, the Japanese Foreign Minister, to the recent protest of the United States.
"Since some readers may think it fanciful to read into such smooth phrases such sharp meanings." the "Manchester Guardian" concludes. "One may quote, finally, from the East Asia News Service, an authoritative Japanese bulletin published in London, "The last number of the bulletin, calling attention to Mr. Arita's Note, gives four reasons why it should be closely studied.
"The fourth reason given is that it is a de facto denunciation of the Nine-Power Treaty.'
"We should not like," the "Manchester Guardian" observes, "to contradict so well-informed a source.""—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.