Hostilities Here are War For Justice and Liberty, Geneva Conference Told Geneva, June 14.
"The only alternative for China today is capitulation or battle. We Chinese have chosen what dut dictates to us: we fight to the end, Mr, Li Ping-Hong, Chinese delegate, declared in a stirring address before the International Labour Conference this afternoon, He reviewed international events of the past year and asserted, "A nation can lose its independence] overnight, "Experiences of the past few years have made the world understand that, however large they may be, concessions to aggressors cannot ensure peace,"
Mr. Li proceeded to denounce "the illusion" that war may be localized and collective security renounced with' impunity. He declared, "China is now undergoing the sufferings of a modern war, China is fighting for the existence and liberty, and she is also fighting for peace, justice and international law, to which all civilized nations should devote their energy."
He emphasized that throughout the 28-mbhths-old conflict, China had not stopped on her road of social progress, economic development and reconstruction work, He presented impressive figures on the gigantic tasks accomplished and undertaken in the fields of economics and transport and communication.
Countries supplying Japan with war materials, the Chinese delegate continued, were only "indulging in action detrimental to their own interests."
He also pointed out that since 1937, Japan had increased her exports to China, whereas Chinese imports from the United States, Germany, Britain and the Netherlands Indies had decreased.
The United States had lost its place as the chief country of exports to China and Japan had assumed this position since she had increased her exports. from 15,73 per cent, of the total in 1937 to 2349 per cent. in 1938.
Earlier in his address opening the general discussion, Mr, Li Ping-hong voiced his support of President Roosevelt's suggestion that an economic conference be held, provided mutual confidence was restored.
Before the Chinese delegate took the floor, Mr. Harriman, delegate of American employers, made a brief speech.
He suggested that raw materials owned by some "have" states should be placed at the disposal of the "have nots" in order to remedy the present unstable world situation.
Exchanges in raw materials should be taken to stabilize exchange, lower tariff barriers and convoke a world conference to conclude a new international treat of peace and goodwill, he said in conclusion, At the close of today's session, the Conference passed by a vote of 90 to two a motion postponing discussions of a project to decrease working hours.—Havas,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.