The Washington times., 1931-10-12
8 PEACE PLANS
NOW ON TRIAL
IN CHINA
Wilson, Harding and Kellogg
Pacts All Are Under Test;
Anxiety Here on Increase
BY WILLIAM C. MURPHY, JR.

/
By WILLIAM C. MURPHY, JR.
Democratic and Republican pre-.
scriptions for preserving world
peace are both on trial as a result
Of the Chinese-Japanese cortro-
versy in Manchuria.
Will the League Of Nations,
conceived in the brain of the
late Woodrow Wilson and
adopted as a Democratic party
issue in 1920, be able to snuff
out this Oriental clash which
threatens serious repercussions
throughout the world?
Will the Nine-Power Treaty,
fruit of the late Warren G.
Harding's 1922 Arms Confer
ence, with its guarantee Of Chi.
nese integrity, be more effec-
tive than the Leagues efforts?
Kellogg Treaty, Also
Will the Kellogg multilateral
pact for the remuneration Of
war, conceived under Calvin
Coolidge and brought forth un-
der Herbert Hoover, prove to be
the instrument that will pre-
serve peace in the Orient?
Or will all of these noble eX-
, periments fail?
Such are some Of the questions
which are being asked as official
Washington awaits the latest news
from the Far East and the Admin.
istration ponders on the advisa.
bility of reminding Japan and
China Of their treaty obligations.
The League of Nations, OF
which both China and Japan are
members, has taken steps already
in an effort to iron out the
Manchurian dispute but its en-.
deavor has lacked tangible re.
, suits. Early in September Japan
promised the league it would
withdraw its forces as soon as
protection for Japanese nationals
was assured.
Dangerous Situation.
Since then Japan has broad
ened her field of military opera.
tionS, according to reports here.
and the situation is regarded as
more dangerous to world peace
than when the league first step
ped in.
Japan's membership in the
League Council which can act
only by unanimous vote is one
reason for peSsimiSm in Washing
ton as to any substantial results
from the Leagues maneuverings.
1t is no secret that the Admins
tratiOn is gravely concerned by
the Far Eastern crisis. The United
States and Great Britain have
such vast interests in the Orient
that open warfare between Japan
and China would place the other
two countries in a most delicate
/ position.
Attitude of Russia
Moreover, aside from the con.
sequences of a clash between
Chine and Japan, the possible at.
titude Of Soviet Russia in that
eventuality presents a problem
OF grave Importance. Russia, 1t
is believed here, would not look
with indifference upon a strug.
gle, which might result in a sub
stantial expansion Of Japanese
influence in Manchuria-some.
thing which would impose still
another obstacle in the way Of
Russia'S traditional keynote pol.
icy, both under the Czars and the
Communist dictatorship, Of seek
ing icefree outlets to the sea.
Another consideration which is
receiving careful attention here
is the possible effect Of the Chi
nase-JapaneSc affair upon the Ad.
ministration's efforts to bring
! about international reduction Of
ornaments. President Hoover has
let it be known on several oc'
casions that he considers dis
armament the prime requisite to
the maintenance of peace and
the restoration Of normal eco
nonic conditions.
ImperilS Conference
II the Geneva Disarmament
conference in February should
meet in the midst Of a war be-
tween Japan and China, no power
Of clairvoyance would be re-
quired to predict that the confer
ence must fail.
+ Moreover, any serious diStur-
bance In the Orient just now
plays into the hands Of the 'Big
Navy" group in Congress which
Is aIready in revolt against Mr..
HOOver's proposed pairing of naval
expenditures.
Woof1Dai1piofO1. ThOir