Evening star., 1932-10-03
LEAGUE TACKLES REPORT.
Declared 70 Have Largest Problem ir
History on Hands.

Declared 70 Have Largest Problem in
History on Hands.
GENEVA. October 3 [P.-The League
OF Nations was definitely at grips today
with the Manchurian problem-perhaps
the greatest test it has faced in its
history-following publication of the re-
port of the Lytton Investigating Com
mission which inferentially condemned
Japsn's military occupation and turned
thumbs down on the japanese advised
regime Of Henry Pu-Yi.
The commission, in an exhaustive
analysis Of the situation which began
with the opening of the japanese Armys
drive in September of last year. found
that the military campaign was un-
justified and that the new state OF
Manehukuo is not supported by the
Manchurian people
1t proposed a special autonomous re-
gime for the territory. with China re-
tanning full sovereignty over the three
provinces, and suggested a special Sino-
Japanese conference to work out the
basis of a permanent settlement with
the provision that the League Council
take a hand II the Chinese and Jap
anese themselves fail to agree.
Signed BY Five Nations.
Because Of the delay requested b.
Japan and granted last week by the
League consideration OF the report will
not be taken up until November IA. It
was signed and approved by all five
members of the commission. Lord Lyt-
ton of Great Britain. Gen Frank Nc
Coy Of the United States. Count Luigi
Albrovandi Marescotti Of Italy, Dr. Her
mann Schnee of Germany and Gen,
Henri Claudel Of France
Generally speaking. 1t was hailed in
all quarters here today. except by the
Japanese with satisfaction The more
the Chinese studied it, the more they
seemed to like it,
The report secuted Japan's conten-
ton, SO often repeated while the mill
tary campaign was at its height last
Winter. that her soldiers were fight
ing in self f-defense.
After giving the conflicting Oh .nese
and japanese versions Of the events
| which provoked the outbreak Of hos-
tilities at Mukden on SeptembeT l8,
| 1891. the committee said the military
| operations of Japanese troops
cannot be regarded as measures OF
legitimate self-defense."
The japanese blamed the Mukden
incident on an explosion on the rail-
| road line which. they testified. created
break in the line of 81 inches. the
I committee pointed out, but they also
/ testified that a train passed over the
break at full speed shortly after the
explosion. arriving in Mukden undam-
| aged and on time.
Chinchow Bombing Condemned.
The commissioners also condemned
4 ~ nv To nSe
/ airplanes near the close of the CAM
paign Bombing Of civil admins
! tration by military forces cannot be
| justified" the report said.
1T has been the practice Of the Japa.
nese to describe Unfortunately 9.
bandits all forces now opposed tc
them" the report said There are. ir
fact. apart from bandits. two distinct
categories OF organized resistance, name
ly regulars and irregular Chinese
troops
/ The government of the new state oi
Manchukuo under Henry Pu-Yi va.
frankly characterized rs one formed
and supported artificially by Japanesr
military and civil officials. without gen.
uine support from the local Manchuriar
population.
Since September 1s. 1881" the com.
mission said. ''the activities Of the Japa
nese military authorities, in civil q!
well as military matters, were marked
by essentially political considerations
Is is clear that the independ,
ence movement. which never had beer
heard Of in Manchuria before Septsm
Der, 1881. was made possible only b!
the presence of japanese troops"
The Japanese general staff. they add
ed knew from the beginning what ust
would be made of the autonomy move
ment.
Witnesses Frightened Away.
The commission also said it founc
it difficult to find out the real attitude
of the Manchurian people because O
the activities Of the Japanese. TIL,
strong guard provided by Japan fright
ened away witnesses, it said. and inter.
| views usually were arranged with con.
siderable difficulty and in secrecy. Man,
informed us that 1t was too dangerou.
| for them to meet us even in this way
/ Most Of the delegations interviewed
1t added, were introduced by japanese
or Manchukuo authorities and the com.
missioners indicated they were skeptica
of the genuineneSs Of the testimony OBJ.
taired from these delegations.
In some cases." they said. persons
who presented statements informed u.
afterward that the statements had beer
written or substantially revised by tn,
Japanese and were not to be taken a.
expressions Of their real feelings"
| All but two of 1850 letters received
by the commission from farmers, trades
men, students and workers in the towns
they said, were bitterly hostile to thu
new 'Manchukuo' government and tht
japanese and they appeared to b.
sincere and spontaneous expressions o
opinion"
/ China's Weakness Scored.
The commission did not hold Chins
blameless for the situation in the East
however, and it sharply indicted tht
Chinese government for its weakness.
and for administrative disorders. i
also insisted China must have regarc
for Japanese economic interests II
| Manchuria.
1.-The final requisite for a satisfactor,
solution" the report said, lis temporar,
international cooperation in the inter
national reconstruction of China.
1t is quite as much in the interests o.
the powers now as 1t was in 1922 II
assist in the reconstruction of China
and the maintenance of her sovereignty
her territorial and administrative In.
tegrity, as indispensable to the main
tenance Of peace.