Oct. 1.
The statement that the Council of the League of Nations has taken steps to prevent inaccurate reports of its proceedings on the Sino-Japanese issue from being disseminated should be specially noted in those quarters. where it is held that the League has failed to give China a fair hearing, This journal has already shown how unfortunate was the impression given by a cable which quite wrongly, tributed a victory to Japan Friday. The Council's decision to keep a stricter - eye on its publicity organisation confirms that correction. In truth China has gained a great deal. The demonstrations which have been made by students and others: have clearly been inspired by an imperfect appreciation of this! point or by a determined chauf yinism, highly reprehensible in the circumstances. So far can be gauged the situation mains outlined in thes columns yesterday. The Council was expected to conclude its de-Iiberations yesterday. The dispute has been examined in the light of the evidence available at Geneva. The acceptance by Japan and China of the process of direct negotiations, with the League watching in the background, seems to be the basis of the League's judgment. If both countries proceed to carry out their declared intention they will be ministering to a victory of commonsense.
At this stage it might be well to consider how the two countries are viewing the position. No good is done by ignoring the ease which either seeks to mak Japan is firmly convinced that the constant threat to her established rights in Manchuria demanded action of some sort. There may have been in Japai as well as on the spot, some di ference of opinion regarding the timeliness of the move of [September 19. There is, none fever, the necessity for securing Japanese rights in South Manchuria. Any proposals for a settlement which does not take this view into full account have not the slightest chance of acceptance by Japan. Nor is it to deny that the sacrifices sideration by the world outside It is axiomatic that a nation, from the preservation of their called upon to make such sacrifices, is not ively to be moved fruits, China'y view of the move in Manchuria has, perhaps, two aspects. There is first the strong protest against what is considered to be the overwhelmingly unnecessary display of military force and the occupation of Chinese territory beyond the needs of railway protection. There is, secondly, the revival of the con-'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.