Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-21

advising against the procedure. The
Councils weak resolution of September
80 was the result.
At the october Council meeting, how
ever, the United States, by its strong
note Of october IL, urged the Council
forward by promising American support
as far as possible in whatever the
Council might decide. An American
observer was invited to sit at the Coun-
Gil table, and the Council put in action
both the Kellogg pact and the China
nine-power treaty.
At one moment during that October
session It was reported that the United
States had again weakened. The Coun-
Gil promptly drafted a weak resolution
The report vas corrected, and the
Council then drafted its strong resolu-
ton of october "a, fixing the date for
Japanese evacuation
This resolution had no juridical force
because Japan voted against 1t, but the
Council confidently expected that the
United States would give It's moral sup
port.
Seat Declined by Dawes.
During the succeeding week Wash
ington apparently did nothing. Then
as the situation in Manchuria grew
note to Toxic. which. while strictly
secret, is said on the whole to have sup
ported the action of the Council.
Now for the third time the League is
meeting! The sending of Ambassador
Charles @. Dawes to confer on this
crisis with the members of the Council
was universally interpreted as a prelude
to strong stand on the part Of the
United States.
Gen. Dawes up to the present, how
ever, has refused to take a seat as an
observer at the Council table. He has
had frequent conversations at his hotel
with TsuneO Matsudaira, Japanese
Ambassador to London, and DIR. Alfred
SEe, Chinese delegate to the League,
but the only other members of the
Council with whom he has conferred
are Sir John Simon, British foreign
secretary, once or twice, and Chair
man Aristide BRAND twice, once at the
beginning and once again yesterday.
NJ. BRAND, on being pressed yester-
day by other members of the Council
for an explanation of the American
policy, seems to have told them that
the United States sympathizeS with the
Councils efforts, but is itself indis-
posed for the present to take any de-
termined stand. This is interpreted by
the tired and discouraged Council mem
bers as a step backward on the part
Of the United States.
Americas Position.
at" they say "the United States.
which not only processes the same in
terest for peace we ourselves profess,
but also has a direct interest In the
China question, is indisposed to do
anything, the case is hopeless. for
Japan will continue to play Washing
ton against the League and we will
get nowhere"
There is reason to fear that the Coun-
Gil has incorrectly understood the Amer
lean position This position in reality
seems to be as follows:
We stand absolutely on the Kellogg
pact and the nine-power China treaty
and on our own rights In the China
question. We highly disapprove OF
Japan's military methods. We oppose
any attempt by Japan to infringe on
the sovereignty or territorial and ad-
ministrative integrity of China
We recognize Japans treaty rights In
Manchuria, but We object to their extern
sion by coercion of arms on China
China in the circumstances has APP
pealed to the League. The Council Is
celebrating.
Free 10 Take Any Action.
We will do nothing to hamper the
Council in any way. On the contrary
We want to support the Council as far
as possible, but we naturally are un-
willing to commit ourselves to any given
program in advance
Up to the present we have not tied
our hands in any respect toward either
China or Japan. We are free eventually
to engage in whatever action we think
proper
All this really boils down to one
point: The United States, in accordance
| with its traditional Far Eastern policy
wants Manchuria to remain Chinese
The immediate problem. therefore, is
| how best to get the japanese troops
back within their own lines.
Can this best be done by close Co
operation with the League Of Nations?
Or can 1t best be done by letting the
League act more or less independently,
and then, If the League fails. we our
selves take up the question directly
with Japan?
u. S. Opinion Divided.
At present, rightly or wrongly, the
Council thinks that the United States
and that its own action is weakening in
consequence. 1t Is still not too late 10
galvanize the Council by firm decla-
ration of American policy.
| But is it desirable? Some American
circles say, Yes, let us use the League
whenever by so doing we can further
American policy" Others say, NO
better steer clear Of the League or han
! die our affairs by the old-fashioned
method of direct diplomacy"
In the meantime. while the Council
| and the United States play peekaboo
| on the Chinese screen. each lodging
away to let the other take the initia-
| tive Japan has acted. The last YES
tiges of Chinese resistance have been
broken. Manchuria has been con-
quered and occupied. The world peace
pactS are discredited and the long
heralded Disarmament Conference bids
fair to open with the Japanese Army
still occupying Chinese territory.