The Danger to the Dutch East Indies
When Scandinavian countries were invaded by Germany concern was immediately felt in the United States about Greenland, through which there was some danger that the war would be brought into American waters. But that is as nothing to the anxiety that would be caused by a German invasion of Holland, which would at once raise the question of the safety of the Dutch East Indies, a region of interest alike to the United States and Japan. The statement by Mr. Arita, the Japanese Foreign Minister, declaring Japan's interest in the maintenance of the status quo, has elicited prompt replies from both Holland and America. The Dutch reply was in strict accordance with the now familiar technique of European neutrals, that Holland is not seek- ing the protection of any country for the Dutch Indies, and rejects offers of protection or intervention. Mr. Cordell Hull's statement from Washington was similar in character to Mr. Arita's ; he declared that intervention in the domestic affairs of the Indies or any alteration in their status quo would be prejudicial to peace, but, unlike Mr. Arita, he claimed to be speaking of the interests of all countries in the islands' commodities, and not only of the interests of his own country. What it amounts to is that both Japan and the United States warn each other off interference. But their objectives are very different. Everyone knows that if japan intervened it would be with the intention of staying in the Dutch Indies ; if America did so, the purpose would be simply to protect Dutch property temporarily.
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