Evening star., 1931-12-11
Peace in Manchuria,

Yesterdays acceptance by Japan and
China of the League of Nations resolu-
| ton on the Manchurian dispute CO.
hincided with President Hoovers mild
references to the conflict in his foreign
affairs message TO Congress.
Peace" is restored In Manchuria-
with reservations. Japan reserves the
right to take measures against bandits,
which means the right to resume mill
tary operations practically at will. China
reserves any remedies and rights" to
which she is entitled under the League
covenants and under treaties to which
she is a party. The japanese are
pledged to withdraw troops "as quickly
as possible from invaded territory, and
a neutral commission of inquiry is to
study the whole Sino-Japanese contro-
Yersy. China understands and ex-
poets" that the neutral commission will
first of all concern Itself with the with
drawal Of japanese forces, if it has not
been completed when the commission
arrives on the ground. Thus ends an
other Paris peace" conference.
President Hoover devotes page of
his message to narrating the sad course
of events in China and the no less sad
course Of events at Paris. The United
States, Mr.. Hoover says, has been
deeply concerned over the situation in
Manchuria. Because We signed the
nine-power treaty and the Kellogg
BRAND pact we have a responsibility
in maintaining the integrity of China
and a direct interest with other nations
in maintaining peace there"
The President expresses the belief
that public opinion in this country has
appreciated the wisdom Of the restraint
exercised by the outside nations in
bringing about peaceful settlement
of the Manchurian irnbroglio. The
United States Government, MIR. Hoover
says, realized that the utmost patience
was desirable" The President may find,
before congressional discussion of his
/ foreign affairs message is ended, that
American popular sentiment is not so
wholeheartedly satisfied as he thinks
with the way in which peace" has been
preserved in the Far East.
The American people are profoundly
shocked by Japan's fiouting Of her
solemn international obligations. They
are shocked not only by Japan's action
in itself, with its disregard Of China's
sovereign national rights, but are even
more deeply stirred by the manner with
which the Japanese have disregarded
three separate pacts to which they
are parties. Mr.. Hoover proclaims
that we have definite responsibility
toward China. How has that response
bility been Shouldered?
Just before he repcrts to Congress on
the Manchurian tragedy, President
Hoover discusses in accents of COM
mendable hopefulness the forthcoming
World Disarmament Conference in
| Geneva. He speaks of the atmosphere
Of c-nfdence" in which the conference
will meet, thanks to the one-year
! armaments truce initiated by italian
Foreign Minister Grand. What sort
Of an atmosphere of confidence" can
exist in world in which events like
the conquest of y Manchuria can be
! perpeTated? How much confidence in
the efficacy of disarmament can pre-
vail in world which knows that at
least one great and powerful member
Of the family Of nations still adheres
TO the theory that necessity knows no
! law?
If nati-ns violate a trio of treaties
{ to keep the peace, what dependence, a
/ parpleXed and disillusioned world might
not unreasonab.y ask, can be placed
upon nations pledges to respect a dis
| armament treaty?