Evening star., 1931-12-28
Text Of Toxic Statement
Manchurian Policy Defended as Step Toward Main.
tenance of Peace Chinese Called Aggressors; Insists
Japan Adhere to World Agreements.

The following statement on the Man
rhurian situation was issued here by the
japanese embassy:
Il The maintenance Of peace and
order in Manchuria is a matter TO Whlch
the government of Japan have always
attached the utmost Importance. Ihey
have on various occasions taken every
lawful step in order to secure 1t and
nrevent Manchuria from becoming q
battlefield of militarists. Only II peace
and order prevail can the country be
safe either for Chinese or for foreigners.
am the absence OF peace and order, Ii
is futile to speak of the open door OF
of equal opportunity for economic actlV-
tiles of all nations. But the events oI
September last have, In spite OF nei
wishes, created q new responsibility aho
a wider sphere of action for Japan.
Attacked by Chinese violence, her
acts of necessary self-protectlon re-
suited. to her considerable embarrass-
ment, in her having to assume tne outy
Of maintaining public order and private
rigbte thronphout a wide area. The
local authorities might have been ex-
nected to cooperate in upholding law
and order. but in fact they almost
unanimously fed or resigned.
Action Called Duty.
"It was Japans clear duty to render
her steps of self-defense as little ols-
turbing as possible to the peaceable IN
hahitants Of the region. 1t would have
heen a breach of that duty to have lett
the population a prey to anarchy-oe
prived OF all the apparatus OF ciVlilzeo
life.
therefore the japanese military have
at a considerable sacrifice expended
much time and energy in securing the
safety of persons and property In the
districts where native authorities mad
become ineffective. This Is a respon-
sibility which was thrust upon them
by events and one which they had as
little desire to assume as to evade.
40. But, further than that, not only
did the existing machinery Oh 1ustlce
and civilized existence break down, put
criminal activities of bandits VINO !nlesl
the country were naturally stimulated
The prestige and efficiency OF Japanese
troops we're for some time suffclent 70
keep them in check ana 10 MAINTAIN
order wherever they were stationed.
"Since the beginning of November
however. a sudden increase in the actlv-
ities of bandits has been noted In the
vicinity of the South Manchuria Rail
wav zone and especially to the west OF
the main line, and it has been estaD-
lished by examination OF arrested lndl-
viduals, bv documents which have been
seized. and from sources Of information
that their depredationS are being car
ried on through systematic intrlgues OF
the Chinchow military authorities
Large Forces Cited.
"Reports have indeed been made by
certain of the foreign military ooserV-
ers suggesting that they found no eVi-
dence OF any preparations being mace
nv Chinese for attack. But as a matter
Of fact, the military authorities OF Chln-
chow are maintaining large forces at
various points west of Takushan on che
Peiping- -Mukden Railway in the adJa-
cent territory. A..
.Tananese Army have not only den
niteIv confirmed the assurance thac
these forces are engaged in making
nreparations for war, but have also re-
vealed the fact that their outposts are
stationed along the line connectlng
Tienchuantai, Taian, Peichipao ana
other points on the right banK OF cIle
River Lao we'll advanced from Chlh-
chow. ,,,
It will readily be admitted that such
a situation in itself constitutes a con-
slant menace to the Japanese coi,Iill
gents dispersed along the Soutn Man-
churia Railway and elsewhere, puC Ing
danger is even greater than 1t seemed
at f3rst sight, If the further fact Is
taken into consideration that the Pel-
ping -Mukden Railway places the citles
of Mukden, Yinkao and Hopel Wlthln
the short Journey Of three or four hours
from Takushan and Kuopantsu lWnlch
are the bases of the Chinese forces)'
Bandits Gain Strength.
"The bandit forces (Which include
large numher of officers and men dis
charged from the Chinese Army are
daily gaining strength For instance,
number of bandits of the western nanK
Of the main line of the South Man
churia Railway were estimated IN early
November at 800, whereas lnVestlga-
tions conducted In early December re-
vealed the fact that they then num-
bered over 10000. ..,,
Moreover, they are banded together
in large groups comprising seVerai nun,
dreds, or even thousands, each equipped
with machine guns ana tfeiicii Aioi
tars; so that they can no longer be DIS
tinguished from the regular uoops'
This points Enthusiastically to the exist
ence of state of things In which So
called bandits are diverted ana pro
vided with arms by the ChlnchoW MIL
itary authorities. -r,
According to statistics compileo ny
the japanese consulate general at
Mukden, cases of bandit raids IN the
vicinity of the railway zone NUMBER
278 during the first 10 days OF NoVem.
Der, 341 during the second 10 days, z3S
during the final 10 days OF tne montn'
and 472 during the first 10 days OF De
cember, thus reaching the astounding
total of 1929 in 40 days.
ut is the usual strategy OF tnese
bandit troops when attacked by our
men to fly westward or to take refuge
on the right bank Of the River Llao'
where our army, anxious to avoid any
collision with Chinese regulars, mas
made it point to refrain from further
pursuit.
Prepared TO Withdraw.
"3. On the oath OF November
the foreign minister of China maze
an intimation to the ministers at Nam
king Of the principal powers TO the
effect that the Chinese government, IN
order to ssuad any collision nsswssn