Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-25
Accuse Big Nations of Letting League
Covenant Fail.

~NSN~~SAAS
PARIS, November rs R.-Repre,
sentatives of small nations in the
League of Nations Council were re-
liably reported today to have assumed
the role Of champions Of China in the
Manchurian deliberations.
Spokesman for certain smaller coun.
tries which were not identified were
said to have accused the big powers Of
letting the League covenant go to pieces
by their unwillingness to exercise the
coercive measures 1t provides.
Ever since the League was formed,
1t covenant has been the bulwark OF
smaller states against aggression by
larger powers, these sp3kesmen ass
serted, and If the Council permits jap
aneSe occupation of Manchurta to con.
tinue this bulwark viii be destroyed.
SEE Instructions Studied.
Because Of this new attitude. It was
thought by most observers that the
Council would not be able to obtain
adoption Of any Manchurian measure
which does not provide for evacuation
by the Japanese.
Meanwhile the Council studied in
structions from Marking to DIR. Alfred
SEE, the Chinese member. A private
meeting was called for this evening.
Article x of the covenant, storm
center Of the League fight in the
United States Senate dozen years ago,
today seemed destined to bear the brnnt
Of another battle As China prepared to
stand upon its provisions in. her at
tempt to force japanese troops out.
The clause Of the article which be.
came q household byword throughout
the United States during the Senate
conflict-the reference to League mem.
bers agreeing to support each others
territorial integrity as against external
aggression"-is the ground upon which
the Chinese propose to build their
claim.
Plans Final Gesture. !;
The Chinese delegation laid its plans
Tor final desperate gesture to secure
positive declaration, and these In.
cluded citing two other 'keystones" Of
which contain the provisions for mil.
tary and economic sanctions.
similar engagement to that of
article K Of the covenant, as far e.
China Is concerned, the delegation viii
insist, Ii contained In the nine.power
treaty, to which the United States Is
q signatory.s ,ss5
The council stood on its lrlofficiaI
resolution providing for cessation OF
hostlities and Q commission! Of inquiry,
with request to Japan to Withdraw
her troops - soon as care for security
would allow, with possibly, neutral
observers to help the process.
Insists on withdrawal.
DR.. Alfred See, Chinese spokesman
however, maintained his iIlsistence that
any inquiry must be accompanied by
troop Withdrawals, while Japan insisted
that the inquiry must not preclude
japanese military activity. e.
The receipt Of the new plan of the
Chinese foreign minister, DR.. wellington
koo, brought no fundamental change
IN the situation, merely emphasizing
Chinas demand for evacuation. AS q
consequence, the deadlock today app
peared more obstinate than ever.
The ffrmness OF DR.. Koo's proposal
surprised diplomatic circles here II
was forecast his suggestion would be
coneiliatory.
There was some talk here to the eff
feet that the United States was plan
ming to call q conference of the sigma
tories 70 the nine-power treaty II the
League should fail to put an END 70
japanese occupation of Manchuria.
Tnere was no meeting Of the League
Council this morning, but one was ten.
tatively scheduled for late In the after.
noon.
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