Defensive Action was Taken Geneva, Mar. 8. debate by the Assenbly of the The vitally important general
League of Nations on the dispute between China and apa. which thas continued daring the past days, was brought to & conclusion thin evening.
ratting committee has now! been entrusted with the task of eorimating various resolutions and presenting. one general resolution Zor the final consideration of the Anvembly, probably on Thursday.
'A little tussle developed over the procedure to be adopted in framing Bhi resolution, but. the" question Mas soon settled, Dr. Benes. proposed. that the drafting committee Should comprise. the eight vice-presidents of the Assembly elected March 3, and suggested. that fail authorised: motions. submitted, fr to be submitted to the Assembly, should be passed to them,—Opposition. to this arrangement' was led, by M. Politis (Greece), but Subsided after the Chairman of the bly, A. Hymans, had given surance. thatthe committee be "guided not only by the By the. principles that had emerged reposals submitted to them but
from the general discussion.
"The drafting committee will meet o'clock to-morrow.
The eight vice-presidents of the], Assembly appointed on March fare: M. Boncour Ramel (Sweden), Sir John, Simon (Great Britain) Signor Grandi (Italy), Senor Ortega (Mexico) Dr. Bruen: ing (Germany), -M. Sepahbodi (Persia). speakers that the League will [stand by the Covenant. 1 reiterate my requests to the Assembly on the [part of China."
Mr. Sato's Reply When Dr, Yen had finished speech Mr. Sato was called. Similarly to Dr. Yen he also spoke from the tribunal and gave a compara~ tively short ition of the JJapanese case. The speeches made Mr, Matsudaira and the _documents which the Japanese delegation had furnished had, he contended, a clear exposition of the Japai ese, attitude, Japan had taken military action, hho said, owing to. the imminent danger to her nationals. She had no alternative, She had not attempted to settle the dispute with 'China by force' nor had she any iden of lating China political ial independence.
What the Japanese had done. he argue, hai' been one cly" other Powers and woul continue 40 done in." similar elreumstances China, Ne contended, "was unlike any' ether country. Te war different from any country in Europe Where, be. asked," ould they find a country whose foreign policy was based "on antcforeign feeling?
Mr. Sato insisted that Japan no intention of exercising military pressure and he said he hoped to see the situation in Shanghai settled in collaboration with the Powers in accordance with the fact From the earliest stated, Japan had Leag and had' carried out. the A Dramatic Moment Following the general debate today a stir' of. excitement swept through the Assembly as M. Hy-mans called upon Dr, W. W. Yen, the chief Chinese delegate, as. it] was recognised that' the meeting was reaching the crucial point.
Dr, Yen, of speaking from his seat as is usual with him, emuly walked to the tribunal, and there was tense silence as he turned to face the Assembly, He thanked the members for the noble and spontaneous response they ha: given to his appeal and dec That it was a fair deduction to that every speaker had upheld proposal for standing by the!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.