Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, DEC. 13, 1932. THE MANCHURIAN QUESTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 13, 13 December 1932, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. TUESDAY, DEC. 13, 1932. THE MANCHURIAN QUESTION.

The Assembly of the League of .Nations, which was convened on November 21 to consider the Lytton Report on the situation in Manchuria, has averted a grave crisis within itself by requesting a Committee to examine the Commission's work, the replies made by Japan and China, and the opinions and suggestions made within the Assembly, and to submit proposals for a settlement of the dispute. The League of Nations is provided with breathing- space at a moment when the outlook was very far from being bright. The Committee, it is reported, will not commence its work serioxisly until the New Year. Naturally, the Japanese are pleased with the turn of events, and the Chinese are exhibiting anger. The latter had hoped for a resolution condemning the former for their actions in Manchuria as a violation of the League Covenant and the Kellogg Pact, but Japan had made it clear that any motion of censure would lead to grave consequences. The resolution was introduced on December 7 by Ireland, Spain and Czechoslovakia, and in the course of an impassioned address, the Japanese delegate demanded its withdrawal, affirming his country’s readiness to be “crucified for her opinions and to risk incurring the severest censure of the League rather than alter her standpoint regarding Manchuria.” In other words, Japan was prepared to withdraw from the League rather than budge an inch from, the viewpoint that what she has done in Manchuria is right. Actually, there was nothing- new in such a declaration, for it has been given prominence by Japanese interests on several occasions since the dispute again became a foremost international problem with the completion of the Lytton Report. On the horns of a dilemma to find a solution which, while not impairing its prestige, would placate Japan and satisfy China, the Assembly has reverted to what is no doubt becoming a favourite means of avoiding lor the time being unpleasant situations. In view of the temper of Japan and China perhaps this is the best course to have pursued. The resolution, as M. Hymans pointed out, required consideration, and this will be effected through the Committee and subsequently in the Assembly. The recent Japanese operations against the Chinese war lord, Su Ping-wen, when his troops were driven through the Khingan Mountains past Manchuli and into Soviet Russia, are an indication of Japan’s temper in Manchuria. Having legitimately acquired economic rights, she is determined to maintain them against the illegitimate action of the Chinese. The former Manchurian authorities, Japan declared in the course of her reply to the Lytton Report, intrigued to undermine her special position and “frequently and flagrantly encroached on her rights and interests in Manchuria.” In expressing uncompromising hostility to the report Japan contended that any scheme “tending to destroy the condition of peace and orderliness now r being restored will irresistibly produce a new era of disputes and difficulties.” The Commission, however, could not subscribe to Japan’s view regarding the

prominence given to Manchuria in her economic development. At the same time it recognised her special interests. Dealing with the establishment of the new puppet Republic of Manchulcuo, which Japan recognised in September, although other Powers have refused to do so, the Commission held it was not a genuine and spontaneous independence movement which led to its creation. The Manchurian problem, Lord Lytton has said, is a test case not as to whether the League of Nations is an effective instrument, but as to whether the collective responsibility of all nations for the maintenance of peace and justice is or is not a real security. That being so, the nations whose delegates assemble at Geneva next year to -receive the Committee’s report have a difficult task to solve the intricate problem created by the SinoJapanese dispute.