Evening star., 1932-12-15
U!:MtNCHURIAN
|PACT UNCERTAIN
Acceptance of Invitation to
Parley to Depend Upon
Terms.

Upon the conditions under which the
American Government will be invited
to attend the Geneva Conference OF
Cancellation for the Manchurian prob
lens depends largely the acceptance to
participate in such conference, 1t Is
stated in well informed quarters in the
State Department.
The Lytton report together with the
recommendation for a vote OF censure
against Japan by the smaller nations
and other matters connected with the
Manchurian question were referred last
week to the Committee of Nineteen
established last Spring by the League
of Nations.
For the time being the Committee Of
Nineteen has to work under auspices OF
the League of Nations and its decisions
must be based on the covenant OF the
League, which provides sanctions
against the offending nation, if she is
found guilty. The United States Gov
ernrlent cannot accept to send offlclal
delegates to such conference because
1t has never recognized the League nor
does it agree with the policy OF
sanctions.
Basis for Participation.
Should, however, the League decide
that the Committee Of Nineteen will
function merely as a conciliatory body,
with the consent Of both disputants, the
United States Government might agree
to become a party to that body. which,
while containing the same personnel.
will no longer be forced to act III &C
cordance with the provisions OF the
covenant
There is a definite impression IN
administrative quarters that the Far
Eastern question will enter into its final
l0 q
of Nineteen, or Twenty-0ne. II the
United States and Russia agree to send
delegates, meets.
So far. 1t is stated. the clever Japa-
nese diplomacy which combined smooth
ness with threats has not made much
headway. much as some of the more
important nations would like to see the
irksome Manchurian question buried
under the avalanche Of reports. docu-
ments and speeches which have been
made in the last nine months.
The japanese delegate at Geneva,
Ambassador Matsuoka has used al! pos
sible arguments to induce the League to
postpone ''sine die" the issues involved
in the Japanese occupation Of Man
churia. After Tckio has threatened the
League. with dire consequences If a de-
cision against Japan is taken. Mr.. Mat
suoka complained that Japan is as much
nlSunGerSIOOQ Uy IIle NOTlG. puDAiS
opinion as Christ was some 1000 years
ago. Are you sure the S0-called world
opinion will persist forever?' ne asked
hf speech last Thursday. Humanity
crucified Jesus Of Nazarath 1000 years
ago What. then. today? Some OF
the people of Europe and America may
wish even to cruelty Japan in the
twentieth century. We are prepared to
A We firr,1y hn ipVa that
in very few years, world opinion will be
changed and We also shall be under
stood by the world as Jesus Of Nazareth
was"
Path0s Produces Smiles.
The pathos with which the speech
was delivered brought however, only
smiles and the Council of the League
proceeded with the Recommendation
that the entire Manchurian question.
inclusive of the harsh accommodation OF
Japan suggested by the minor members
of the League. should be put before the
Committee of Nineteen, which will meet
early In the course of this week.
Much stress was laid by Japan and
her friends on the ill-feeling which was
created in Great Britain and in France
in the course OF the. last two weeks be-
cause of the refusal of the American
Government to permit postponement of
the December installment OF the war
debts.
While it is true that public opinion in
both these countries has been reused
against America. the matter Of payment
of the December installment is consid-
cred by the respective governments as a
comparatively minor issue compared
with the other more important questions
which are still open; the economic con-