19 gen 1939 anni - "'AGGRESSIVE' U.S. DESCRIED IN JAPAN" NY Times 1939, Jan 19 -

Descrizione:

NY Times 1939, Jan 19 -

'AGGRESSIVE' U.S. DESCRIED IN JAPAN

In January 1940, Japanese newspaper Asahi described American naval expansion plans as unmistakably aggressive, suggesting they were designed to project U.S. power deep into the Pacific, even close to Japanese waters. The paper questioned whether the U.S. could finish its shipbuilding program by 1945 but argued that the intent behind the buildup was clear—either to intimidate Japan or to ensure superiority in a postwar naval conference. Rear Admiral Kanazawa, speaking for Japan’s Navy Department, avoided making direct accusations but acknowledged the proposed American battleships could carry fortress-sized guns and possess substantial offensive and defensive capabilities. He added that naval power ratios in the Pacific were too abstract to quantify due to changing conditions and deployment factors.

Japan rejected the idea that the reopening of the Yangtze River in China was a bargaining chip in exchange for a U.S. trade agreement, stating it was part of a broader restoration of foreign rights. Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador Joseph C. Grew reportedly told Japan’s retiring foreign minister that Washington was concerned about Japan’s warming relations with the Soviet Union—fueling suspicion on both sides.

At the same time, the U.S. extended its “moral embargo” on aviation fuel used in bombing civilians, prompting the quiet withdrawal of American petroleum engineers from Japan. Similar withdrawals were expected from the Soviet Union. The Japanese press interpreted these moves, along with proposed American economic sanctions, as attempts to restrain Japan, which it firmly rejected—stating Japan would not yield under any pressure.

Aggiunto al nastro di tempo:

Data: