Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-16

There Is an irony Of fate. in the
juxtaposition of the date appointed py
President Hoover for the international
proclamation and celebration OF the
kellogg peace pact abolishing war as
q national policy. agreed to by the
signers Of the pact. and the appareh EN-
imminence of q new war between tne
two most populous nations Of the
world. July "A, all ambassadors and
ministers Of the nations signing the
kellogg pact are invited by the Presl-
dent to unite in ceremony at the
White. House in honor Of the great
agreement to abolish war. There Will
also be present former Secretary OF
state MI. Frank B. Kellogg. after
whom the pact is named. and Senator
Borah. chairman Of the Senate foreign
relations committee. and Senator Swan
son, ranking Democratic member OF
that committee. The French Ambas-
sador, M. Claudel. will represent
not only France. but also Russia. tne
latter country having no diplomatic
relations with the United States. but
china will be represented by its own
Minister.
After the formal ceremonies OF the
occasion, all will sit down to luncheon
as the guests Of President Hoover tne
bear and the dragon at one feast. -,
viii that significant day pass WITH
out the distant booming Of guns IN the
new war making mockery OF all the
hopes Of peace?
Not a word of discussion Of the
critical situation in the Far East Is
heard amongst the officials Of the De-
partment of state. When asked about
the latest developments, the answer is
phrased in words of optimism, indi-
cating--how sincerely?-a commence
that war will pass and somehow peace,
full negotiations between China ana
Soviet Russia will supplant armaments
and the threatening marches OF armies.
The excuse for the lack Oh omclal m
formation, by which to check news
paper reports, is that since we have no
diplomatic relations with Russia. we
nave no consuls in Siberia, nor any
where near the seat Of trouble, hence no
official reports. But the hope Is that,
Somehow, peace will succeed the present
acute crisis, for it is unthinkable tnat
tomorrow, in the presence OF the League
of Nations and the Kellogg pact, ma
tion of 400 900 900 will be at war with
an outlaw nation Of zoe, 000, 900, for al
though Russia is: not member OF the
! League of Nations, both belligerents
have signed the Kellogg pact, p!edg1ng
the world that never again Will tney
resort to war as national means Oh
settling any disputes.
~ X n X
Compared with the event at Serejevo,
which started the greatest war IN MIS-
tory through the assassination OF TWO
victims, what does it mean to clVlllza-
ton that Russia gives China an ultl-
matum expiring tonight, and threaten
ingly intimates that unless emma re- re-,
cedeS from all its policies, releases all
its Soviet prisoners, replaces Russians
in full control of the Eastern Railroad,
built with Russian capital across
Chinese .Manchuria, Russia will take
other steps to maintain her rights"
| Does that mean another world war TO-
morrow?
How significant is it that China as
serts that she is determined to get rio
Of Soviet Communistic propaganda ana
maintain her own sovereignty. Wltnln
her national boundaries? It Is not a
railroad that is the bone Of contention,
but q great principle of Chinese self
assertion and sovereignty, against SOVIET
entertainments and intrigue to under
mine the Chinese government, as Soviet
Russia IthreAtens' attempts to UNDER
mine all organized governments.
\ n X y
In the meanwhile, what is the League
Of Nations going TO do about 1t, to pre-
| vent war, the very raison d'etre OF the
Leagues existence?
The League has been very proud OF
It's alleged successes In preventing
hostilities. amongst the minor nations,
like PERU and Chile and Bolivia in the
Western Hemisphere although there
are many who seem to believe that
Uncle Sam had more to do with that
than did q League Of Nations.
There was the bloody war between
Greece and Turkey since the. League
began to function. Also some IS or 80
other. major wars in the last 10 years
which the League has failed to pre-
vent. But today it faces the OPP
portunity of its life-a crisis between
China and Russia, with probable in
Movement Of Japan and q spread OF
complications which no observer can