Yesterday commenced a momentous week n the history of the League of Nations, and expected that the decisions which will be reached during this present session will have far-reaching effects, Quite the most important matter will be the question of the recognition of the Italian Empire in Abyssinia, but the subject of Swiss neutrality and the latest Chinese complaint regarding Japan's behaviour in China will also provide much food thought and discussion, In connection with the latter Mr. Victor Hoo, permanent Chinese delegate to the League has delivered a Note to M. Avenol, entimerating the various events which have occurred since his last message of October 27, of last year, and deals with the "bombing and indiscriminate killing of Chinese non-combatants as well as other outrages perpetrated by the Japanese forces. It is not to be expected that any particu] action will be taken by the League Council in the matter, and the Note will probably be accepted more as a matter of record than as demanding special treatment, which in view of all the circumstances would seem to be impracticable. it might be possible to pass a resolution condemning the Japanese for their practices in China, concerning which, unhappily, there is an overwhelming amount 9f evidence available, but that such a resolution would have any real effect is more than a little doubtful. Japan's present attitude is to ignore the League and all its works, and there is the danger that if lution were passed, it would mot have no beneficial effect? but might very likely do considerable harm. The advisable method seems to be for the Note to be tabled and left at that, for, so long as the League can do nothing about these matters, the less it attempts to do the better for the prospects of its future existence. It is, of course, re-gre should be the ni state of affairs, but it is imperative that the Leagüe should be brought to a realization of its own limitations, and that for the time being, at st, it should refrain fr ich can have no practical application.
The question of the integral neutrality land an important matter in the yes of that country. In effect Switzerland as notified the League that while she desires to remain a member she will not associate herself with any action of the League calculated to deprive her of that neutral which has been a traditional feature of her foreign policy, and upon which the safety of the small republic has been consistently based. There appears to be no reason why the League should nct accept the proposition h is thus raised. It does not matter for lat reason, the fact remains that the League has been able to do nothing particular effective with regard to the varioi which have been brought to its notice. T Swiss government naturally realizes that adequate protection could not be given to other member states there is no reason to believe that Switzerland would be any more happily placed in this respect. It is unfortunate that the Swiss request should come just at a time' when with regard to other matters the League is being asked to reverse one of its decisions, and that the important cne regarding the recognition of the Italian conquest of Abyssinia. The contention made in a pamphlet published by Ethiopian interests in London is not of any great merit, and may be regarded together with the reported intention of the Ethiopian delegates to attend the sessions of the Council, not so much as a manceuvre having any real prospects of success, but solely for the purpose of embarrassing the Powers who are striving to put an end to a state of affairs which is as dangerous as it is inconvenient, If indeed it is true that resistance is still being shown the Italian armies of occupation in Abyssinia there is nothing to show that it is a resistance capable of eventually winning the country back for the Ethiopians, or calculated in any way to minimize the control which the Italians are now exercising. The military state of the two contending forces is something which to be regarded with a purely realistic eye, and that realism requires that the peace of Europe shall not be imperiled by obstinacy over a matter which by now has only the vestiges, of importance.
The fact that a substantial number of nations, still members of the League, have already extended recognition to the Italian conquest, enables the motion giving all members freedom of action in the matter to be put forward, This does, of cour: f altering decisions, because they have al been breached, but that is not the only paradox to be found in a situ: ion which certainly deserves an early clearing up. It remains to be seen whether either the Chinese the Russian delegations seek to rai difficulties the matter. They have opportunity of doing so if they desire, but it is generally believed that they will refrain from pursuing any policy which woud serve to complicate matters any more than they are now. The present affords an opportunity for the League ta show a degree of elasticity which has been so lamentably lacking in the past. Undoubtedly the rigid system of political logie which it sought to follow, contributed largely towards bringing about the chisms which have deprived the League of 1 is now being such aş the passage of this motion calls for. Unfortunately in the nature of things it is almost impossible to secure finality of decision for all time, Undoubtedly when the resolu-would have some sort of restraining effect upon the Italian Government, If there were any stich hope it has by now completely ed, and with the rapid change of conditions new considerations have arisen which demand the reversal of a decision which, it should have been apparent from the very first, need not necessarily have about it all the solid requirements for a permanent ruling. There are still supporters of the League and its policy who will find much savouring of the Machiavellian in such a contention, Nevertheless all it amounts to is the argument that itis by continual compromise between the nations that it is possible to bring about any reasonable degree of security. For t reason the passage of the proposed motion, unpalatable as it will undoubtedly be to some people, has to be accepted as a real
and it is a very gra values contribution toward general appeasement, to insist that any si the cause of peace of purely academic An Old Postal Servant With the departure from Shanghai today, in the P, & O. s, Corfu of Mr. and Mr: M. W. Ritel the China Postal Service is losing the person of Mr. Ritchie an old and valued sel ut who has served it for no fewer than 37 years in a manner which reflects the greatest dit upon himself. During that long time Ritchie has been engaged in a large num ber of different roles, serving in offices as far apart as Tsinan and Chengtu, Harbin and Cantion. A man of boundless energy and business acumen in later years he was head of the Business Department of the Directorate General of Posis, with the concurrent appointment of Chief Inspecting Commissioner, for the entire and as such played a striking part the development of. and speeding up of all ches of the mail and parcel services. Indeed itis said that the development of the latter does more to him than to any other man service. One of the most outstanding pieces of work during his long career was the handling of the situation in Nanking during the hostilities. He carried on as long as it was possible, and it was then due to his foresight that it was possible to evacuate the staff of the Nanking Post Office together with the office's cash balance and the stock of stamps. Later he returned and reopened the office and one of his last acts was to hand it over again as a going concern. This journal has known Mr. Ritchie as a valued contributor to its columns for many years and his departure will deprive it of the assistance of ihe wielder of a very facile and interesting "pen. It is hoped that, though) he is leaving the scenes which inspired him to write, he will find much of interest to write about in his new environment, and he may remain certain that if he does the hospital: ity of these columns will always remain open to him. Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie are known all over China for their hospitality, Mrs. Ritchie is particularly being renowned as a-very charm-g and efüicient hostess,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.