The Bismarck tribune., 1931-10-16
Member of The Associated Press
(Official City. State and County
Newspaper)
Foreign Representatives
SMALL, SPENCER. LEVINGS
& BREWER
Incorporated)
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
A Hot Spot for the League

A Hot Spot for the League
Regardless of whether they have
exercise the Oriental guile for
which they are famous or the child
like innocence which heather peoples
are supposed to enjoy, the Chinese
have put the League of Nations on q
hot spot.
Their very faith in the power and
ability of the league to adjust the
Manchurian situation to the salts
faction of all concerned Is what
makes it difficult for the league, tor
it is plain that China expects some |
thing to be done about it.
The league, admitting that the sit
uation presents crisis in its exist
ence, nevertheless apparently is un-
willing to do anything. AS long as
the competition which the league had
to judge was merely that OF fine
words and flowery phrases, it was a
great institution. In such periods
the league seemed capable Of accom-
plishing wonders.
But the Chinese have taken the
league and its principles off Of an
abstract plane and put them square,
ly against a concrete fact. It wants
the league to investigate and adjNdi-
cate the situation which has devel-
oped in Manchuria.
The request has been made pub
licly. All the nations know about It,
Unless the diplomats at Geneva can
find a way to eyade the situation, Or
conditions adjust themselves before
they finally have to make q decision,
the league will have to take some
sort of action. Upon the character
OF that action will depend the respect
which the world will have for the
League of Nations in the future.
The very helplessness of the Chi
nese is what makes the situation DIFF
ficult, but the fact also makes It one
unusually susceptible to league treat
n,ent. II China had been prepared
to 60 to war with any reasonable as
surances Of success, we should have
seen bloody fighting long ere this
In that event the leaders Of the
league could have talked themselves
hoerse without having to shoulder
any responsibility.
But the Chinese are in no position
to fight and SO they adopt an atti.
tude of non-resistance and turn
hopeful eyes toward Geneva. So tal
as the world is concerned, they hav'
issued an ultimatum which may maxi
more history than could possibly b'
made by q war between tho two vel
low peoples.
They have demanded. in effect
that the league either perform o
confess It's inability to do so.
II the league meets the situation
adequately 1t will give new promis
to Q war-weary world and many VIII
have had little confidence in it wi
view it in q more kindly spirit.
it confesses by the puttering, side
stepping and articles which diplo
mats know only too we'll, it will hav
proved what a monstrous fraud
really is.
From the current situation we al
likely to see either q re-birth of tn
idea that nations, acting in concer
can adjudicate troubles among ma
tions, or we may see proof that M
tional avarice, greed and ambitio
are scornful Of world opinion whe
there is something to be gained.
Meanwhile, America watches wit
interest and some anxiety the NJ,
ticipation of its government in tt
Sino- japanese muddle. 70 dat
America has refused to be party
the leagues activities in an offici
way, although it has had observer
at every big league meeting and the
doubtless have attempted to inte'
pret the attitude of our governmeu
In the present crisis. however, IL
United States makes sort Of hacl
door entry to the council table upc
its own expressed willingness toser'
and the desire Of the other nstio'
to have the worlds great weste'
power with It In whatever actie
may be taken.
Regardless Of the rise or fall of Il
League Of Nations, therefore, it cal
not be denied that America y g;
tending helping hand in the tin
Of need. It has cast aside an ag