Japan in Offing; Tokyo Pledges "Worthless"
Washington; Apr, 23. (TE Navy Department yesterday quickly disclaimed responsibil~ ity for the statement of the Commandant of the Fifth. Naval] District, Rear-Admiral Joseph K. Taussig,- in which he. said a! Japanese-American war is "inevitable.
Admiral Harold R, Stark, the Chief of Naval Operations, issued a statement through the Naval Press Office rebuking Admit Taus: sig for his statement and made it clear that the latter was talking on his own responsibility.
Admiral Stark added that Admiral!
Taussig's views were contrary to those of the Navy Department, He invited the study of his own testimony before the Senate Naval Affairs Committee last week.
Rear Admiral Joseph K. For sig, Commandant of the Fifth Naval District, yesterday told the senate Naval Affairs Committee he believed 'a United States-Japanese war itevitmitted that the only way to accomplish this would be to "go to war."
'The Admiral predicted that it Germany wins the European war the totalitarian nations will' "put the squeeze on us as sure as fate." able, Japan, he declared, is foment. ing a desperate Far East situation as 8 prelude to programme of conquest by which it hopes to impose its philosophy on much of the world, Japan. intends to try to conquer the Philipines, French Indo. China, and the Netherlands East Indies, Admiral Taussig said.
He said he believed withens reser-
Senator Scott W. Lucas, Ilinols Democrat and member of the committee, asked if the United States should join other powers in ghting Japan to maintain: China's integrity, "We are signatories to the treaty maintain Chinese integrity," Admiral Taussig declared—United Press.
Admiral Taussig Explains tailing a programme of world con-t, which he said would begin afler first crushing the United States. "I cannot see how we can ultimately prevent being drawn into war on account of the Far East situation," Admira] Taussig said. "We would be warranted in using economic and finaelal means, and, if necessary, force to preserve the integrity China, The Japanese nation is a determined, warlike people whose pledges are worthless."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.