The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-12-26
Warning

Warning
News dispatches from Tokyo say
the American, British and French
governments have sent warnings to
the Japanese that there is such a
thing as going too far with their rape
Of Manchuria. The exact terms Of
the notes have not been disclosed at
this writing, but the hint is given that
the little yellow men have been told
American public opinion may be
aroused by further aggression in Man.
churia.
The Japanese reply, which probably
will be available as this is printed,
should serve to demonstrate just how
far Nippon is prepared to go to gain
her ends.
As a matter of fact. the warnings
appear to have arrived too late to
have practicable value. Washington's
policy Of secret diplomacy has kept
the people of the United States pretty
much in the dark as to the true sig
nificance Of happenings in Manchuria,
but some things seem evident from
such information as the news agen-
cies have been permitted to send out.
Foremost among these is the fact that
the japanese have assumed complete
control Of an area as large as Mime
sofa, the Dakotas and Montana and
having 10000 900 inhabitants. The
country is rich in natural resources.
From any standpoint and upon any
basis that is quite an acquisition.
1t is probably true that the Japa-
nese will develop the country more
intensively than the Chinese ever
would do. With japanese efficiency
and under japanese management 1t
may bloom like the rose. But that
hardly dims the fact that we have
before us. as 1891 draws to a close, an
international steal OF the first mag
nitude.
Two incidents in. the long drawn
out diplomatic maneuvers which have
accompanied the Manchurian land
grab are indicative Of the attitude
both of the Japanese and of the rest
Of the world. The first was the Nip
ponesc reaction to a reported state
ment by Secretary Stimson, the other
was Stimson's note to the League Of
Nations consratulating it upon its
success in dealing with the situa-
ton.
Stimson, 1t will be remembered,
talked with news correspondents in
Washington and a Japanese newspa-
perman cabled a garbled version Of
the secretary's remarks to Tokyo. The
reaction there was swift and decisive.
High officials Of the Japanese govern
ment, who scorned to use the ano-
nymity of a spokesman" took him
severely to task. They even descended,
without further provocation, to calling
names.
What Stimson really said was SUBJ
sequcntly explained and the matter
was hushed up. but tbs record shows
no explanation by the japanese Of
their war-like reaction.
Now 1t 50 happens that what Slim
son was misquoted a. saying was APP
proximately what the average Ameri-
can was thinking and, possibly, it was
what he should have said.
Treaties to which the United States
is a party have been violated and dis
regarded by Japan. Commercial rights
and privileges Of Americans have van
ished into thin air In q large part of
the Orient, but 4 hint of what Amer
lea might be thinking brought q war
like demonstration.
This readiness Of the Japs to fight
"at the drop Of q hat" may be ex-
planned on the basis that Japan, alone
Of oil the great world powers, obtained
definite gain from tho World war. She
lost nothing In blood or treasure and
gained some important concessions al
the result Of the treaty of Versailles
For Nippon it was a successful, il
bloodless, war and she is willing to
engage in another.
The congratulations to the League
OF Nations was the most peurile bit OF
business in a rather tawdry affair. It
had to do with the adoption of a reso.
luton intended to settle the Manchu-
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