NEWS OF THE WEEK
JAPAN has not yet replied to the British and American Notes protesting against the attacks on the U.S. gunboat ' Panay' and H.M.S. ' Ladybird' ; and the delay is attributed to the confusion which prevails in Tokyo. But until the reply is made, no decision can be taken in London or Washington as to what further steps if any may be called for. Certainly rumours of an American naval demonstration are premature, for despite public indignation in America, President Roosevelt must employ much circumspection if he is not to antagonise isolationist and pacifist sentiment. He has, however, been considerably strengthened by the message of support sent to him by his former opponent, Mr. Alfred Landon, from the Middle West. But the reparation already offered by Japan, the apology broadcast by the Japanese Ambassador in Washington and the dismissal of Rear- Admiral Mitsumani, Chief of the naval air arm, can no longer be considered sufficient since the facts of the ' Panay ' incident have been established. An eye-witness account of the incident by The Times Correspondent, published last week, was reproduced in full in the New York Times and made a deep impression on American opinion. There is little doubt that there was " a deliberate and systematic attempt to destroy the gunboat and all on board " ; the ' Panay ' was bombed from the air, fired on from army launches, boarded by a party of soldiers, and the crew machine- gunned while escaping from the ship. This display of exuberance by Japan's soldiers may yet prove to be one of her major blunders in the war.
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