America's Intentions
The speculations that have been aroused about the effect of the sinkings of American ships—the destroyer 'Greer,' the rnerchant ships, Sessa and 'Steel-Seafarer,' and probably others not yet announced—will probably have been set at rest by the time these words appear. They undoubtedly will when President Roosevelt delivers his deferred broadcast. The con- ferences between the President, the Secretary of State and the Secretaries of War and the Navy, immediately on Mr. Roosevelt's return to Washington from his mother's funeral, Pgether with the decision to summon the House of Representa- tives for next Monday, a week before the normal date, obviously portend decisions of the first importance. An actual declaration of war would have the disadvantage of putting into operation Japan's pledges to the Axis Powers, but the announcement of an order to American ships to shoot at sight would not have that consequence. The constant interviews between the American Ambassador at Tokyo and the Japanese Foreign Minister have led to the belief that some kind of Pacific settle- ment is in prospect. That is possible in view of the firm front shown by this country and the United States and the formid- able reinforcements to our defences in Malaya and at Singapore, but nothing less than Japan's renunciation of designs against her neighbours can make permanent peace possible.
