May 10.
Yesterday commenced a momentous week: In the history of the League of Nations, and it is 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 "be-' haviour in China will also provide much food for thought and discussion, In connection with the latter Mr. Victor Hoo, permanent! Chinese delegate to the League has delivered a Note to M. Avenol, enumerating 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 farces." It is not to be expected that any particular 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! of evidence available, but that such a resolution would have any real effect is more than a little doubtf: l. Japan's present attitude Is to ignore the League and all its works, and there is the danger that if any such resolution were passed, it would not only 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-grottable that this should be the present state
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.