Nothing could have been more unexpected than the news, which arrived yesterday, that the Government of the United States had decided to denounce the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with Japan which came into effect in 1911, particularly so because of the fact that the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate postponed discussion of the Treaty until later in the week. There is something dramatic about the announcement to the Press being made at the State Department at 11.30 at night, but there can be nothing more dramatic than the consternation which this very decisive action on the part of the United States Government is likely to have upon that section of Japanese opinion which fancied that Tokyo was managing to keep on the best of terms with America. The fact of the matter is that there has been an over large number of incidents in which Americans have been involved recently, adding to the very long list of which has occurred between the two countries, and it is in the light of all the damage which has been done to American interests in China, because of the Japanese invasion, that the two statements that the Treaty "contains provisions which need new considerations," and that denunciation is resorted to "with a view to the better safeguarding and promotion of American interests as new developments may require," appear in their full significance. Denunciation means that Japan, after the expiry of six months may no longer be able to look upon the United States as the best source for the supply of materials necessary for military operations such as cotton, iron, steel and petroleum, and those who believe that the application of such an embargo which denunciation of the Treaty would permit may have the effect of inducing Japan to change her ways may find themselves justified. The action of Washington is designed io give it a stronger talking point than it has ever possessed before, and it may be that Tokyo and the Japanese military in China will be more amenable to reason than they have appeared io be up to the present. This action taken by the United States is all the more important because she is not involved in the European situation, and, consequently, can give wholehearted attention to this part of the world. Washington is differently placed from Whitehall in this matter, though it has to be remembered that in the ultimate result Great Britain has treaties with Japan which can be similarly treated in certain eventualities. It is not argued that at this juncture resort to that form of argument should be made by Great Britain, but it should be remembered that the potentiality is there, and could be availed of. What will be of immediate interests will be the reaction in Japan. That there will be a storm of indignation, arising from a realization of the fact that Japanese policies of placation adopted towards the United States have failed in view of the realities of the conduct of the military in China, may confidently be expected, but it is to be hoped that there will also be a realization that the United States is not placed in the same position as the European democracies. It may confidently be stated that this latest action on the part of the United States may be productive of the profoundest reactions.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.