Oct. 24.
The Council of the League of Placed in it. Faced with Nations has justified the faith
jue transcending in urgency And importance any yet brought fmergently before it, it has Refused to be brow beaten. Im-@atient critics who, in' their disbelief of the efficacy of the Movement of which the League the instrument, demand quick Results on pain of the brand of failure, will find it hard to perguade China that her representa-ions have been of no. avail. They certainly will not be able call Japan as a witness to the Council's impotence. In dealing with two members, whose stand-dug jointly exceeds that of any Pair of disputants ever yet seek-Sng its judicial verdict, the Council has shown a ripeness of judgment which tribunals of far eater age might envy. It will immediately strike the thought: Gul observer that the rapidity of Modern communications has een an important factor in enabling the Council to come so firmly to an appreciation of the Bituation. "It can be assumed that the decisions recorded today have been taken with very full knowledge of the history of Sino-Japanese relations and of the various local complications which, although not superficially devant, are of intrinsic value helping to form an accurate Picture of the merits of each wside's case. Thus, while keeping to the forefront of its @eliberations the unwarrantable method of Japan's original move fu. Manchuria, the Council has taken care to equip itself with Knowledge of the provocation offered. Both Japan and China owe much to the patience and tateomanship expended by the Council on their behalf and on behalf of the world's peace. They also owe much to their Fespective representatives, Mr. Woshizawa and Dr. Alfred Sze, who have displayed that blend lof courtesy and pertinacity which compels respect and facilitates sympathetic attention. It is to be hoped that the militarists in Sapan and the fanatical critics of the Nanking Government will realise the ability with which these two diplomats before a world-court have vindicated the reputation of their countries for ed judgment and common-
In a dispute involving two de: Yermined suitors the verdict of tthe judge is not likely to be completely pleasing to either Bide, China, as Dr. Alfred Sze thas been quick to point out, does not get all she wanted. Japan has to face the necessity for action which will obviously distasteful to a large section of her public opinion, There is reason to believe that Tokyo or Nanking will fail to recognise the wisdom of accepting the Council's decision. There are obvious difficulties in the way of giving effect to the demand for China's protection of, Japanese nationals in Manchuria just as there will be in the way of a Japanese withdrawal into the railway zone by the assigned date. Unless both sides are determined to obstruct, those difficulties should be overcome. The strong bulwark of reconciliation should be the creation of per manent machinery for the joint examination of outstanding differences. This must naturally be deferred until the evacuation has been completed. China may find ft convenient to consider whether this important task. should not be delegated ts the highest military authority at her command. In view of the conditions obtaining in Southern Manchuria it is essential that the Council should be left in doubt of the intention of China to full this obligation to the utmost of her power. She should be encouraged in this by the Council's significant and solemn reaffirmation of the terms of the Nine Power Treaty bleb pledges respect for her reignty, independents and territorial and administrati integrity." "These injunctions fare not issued without moral support from the League. The Council, at its next meeting, or earlier, if emergency requires is prepared to consider. the tent to which its wishes have been carried out, It cannot be. believed that either party will \refrain from putting forth its best efforts to render further anxiety unnecessary, It has been suggested by some that Japan, having made a move in defiance of the League's creed, Would continue to ignore her' obligations as a member of the Council and the League. If such
Yoshizawa would not have been vere really Japan's policy' Mr. permitted 0 eloquently and Patiently to present his Government's "case to the Council. 'There would have been a swift withdrawal, physical if" not! technical. " No such tragedy. occurred, Therefore the ce! tinuance' of Mr. Yoshizawa association with the proceedings, implied the eventual readiness of Japan to give due consider tion to the Council's opinion. Indeed it would not be rash to say that Japan, with great dignity, has shown herself res-pensive to that opinion, even though it plainly is critical of the action for which, by the precipitaney of her military force she has had to take responsibility. China is even more firmly bound to the League. Her Presentations to the Council, made of her own free will, have produced the verdict now delivered, It would be unthinkable that she should attempt to evade the consequences.
It is early yet to endeavour me all the implications important world-cause and its outcome. At the moment! it is sufficient to express the view that the League has peditiously and effectively arrived at a unanimous decision. Tt hag averted war; it hae set! in train movements which should establish the right of the weaker nation to apply with confidence to it for redress against the aggression of a stronger opponent. Perhaps the greatest danger has lain in the mero fact, that, from the point of view of physical strength, the two parties were so unequally matched. Japan put the League in the in-vidians position of having to decide justly and yet to disabuse the world of the impression that, aggression had automatically secured an unassailable advantage for the conduct of negotiations. China's weakness fand inherent political defects: similarly exposed the League to the danger of arriving at conclusions which might be taken to encourage imperfect attention' to international obligations. The Council appears successfully to have avoided each of the ho1 fof this dilemma. While Japan will have to consider the serious problem of bringing her national policy more closely in alignment with her obligations as a member of the League and signatory to the Pact of Paris China has also to undergo a process of severe introspection. Her recourse to the League, on the Council of which she has just, been appointed, indi prudent confidence in the justice! of world-opinion. To ensure the regard of that opinion she has to consider very carefully when ther the differences existing between her and Japan do not demand the abandonment methods which, to a very large extent, have been responsible for the: specific difficulty under discussion. Carrying the argument further, she may well give an eye to. differences outstanding between her and other Powers. No-one would deny the difficulties Intent, in her present colossal task of building up a new of government, but they are likely to be reduced ra-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.