Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-11
State Department Prepared
to Remind Nations of Their
Pledges of Peace. g,
STIMSON KEEPS HOOVER
INFORMED OF SITUATION
America May Use Kellogg BRAND
Pact or Nine Power Pacific Treaty
to Halt War Threat.
BY BYRON PRICE.


Chief Of Washington Bureau the Associated
Press
Soft-spoken but forceful American
intervention to still the rumblings of
a Japanese-Chinese war in Manchuria
appeared last night to be but question
of hours
The state Department was fully pre-
pared to invoke before world opinion
the promises of peace and fair dealing
made so often by Japan and China in q
long succession of treaties. Secretary
Stimson awaited only a final report on
the latest turn of affairs, hopeful, but
not optimistic that an appeal already
made by the League Of Nations would
end hostilities
1t was disclosed officially that once
Washington was convinced that inter-
national pledges were continuing to be
broken, action would follow.
. Actual War Going On.
Aside from her League commitments.
japan has promised under the Kellogg
BRAND treaty not to use war las an
instrupent of national policy" and she
stands pledged under the nine-power
pact OF 1922 Ito respect the sovereignty,
the Independence and the territorial
and administrative integrity of China"
For nearly a month now, Japanese
troops have been in control of Mukden,
capital OF the Chinese province of
Manchuria. Almost every day brings
news of fresh movements against new
Manchurian territory Actual, if not
technical, war is taking place over q
large section Of the countryside.
China, on her side. is pledged to pro-
vide adequate protection of japanese
nationals and property, lawfully within
her borders. This. the japanese protest,
she has not done with respect to the
japanese controlled railway in Southern
Manchuria.
The American Government believes
this greatly beclouded situation can be
dealt with effectively by a maSsing of
world opinion behind an appeal to the
sanctity of treaty obligations. Most of
the nations of the world are parties to
the Kellogg BRAND pact against war.
All of the great powers. including the
United States, signed the nine-power
treaty of 1922 Both Japan and China
are members of the League of Nations,
committed by the covenant against as-
erosion
There Is no authoritative talk of any
but peaceful methods to enforce these
promises of peace. The United States
has no present intention of brandish-
ing a big stick. Its whole effort is to
bring home the responsibilities OF those
who accept membership in the family
of civilized nations.
Secretary StimSon yesterday devoted
most of his time to the problem keeping
President Hoover advised of latest de-
velopments. The atmosphere about the
gray old State Department was one Of
tightening expectancy. There was 40
pretense of concealing the deep concern
of officials, who were uncommunicative
and eager for news.
The departments own dispatches as
to the military situa ton in Manchuria
were fragmentary and almost worthless.
America agents are in the war zone.
but for the most part they are inquiring
into the origins of the trouble, rather
than its present ramifications. They
are sending In many rumors. all quail
fed by the statement that they NAV
we'll be propaganda eri1anating from
military sources on the opposing sides.
Americans in Sector.
About 100 Americans are in the trou-
bled sector, and American investments
run into several millions. but none Of
these appear to have been harmed.
They do not constitute the immediate
concern of the Washington Govern
ment That concern is rather for the
integrity of the whole fabric of inter-
national treaties to which these Orien-
tai nations have subscribed, and which
are the bases of American trade and
good will in many parts of the world.
So meager are the reports which have
come out of Manchuria that it still is
unclear just how the trouble started. 1t
is known that on September l9 Jap
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