Evening star., 1932-12-15
.SANCT|TY Of PACTS
INJURED BY FRENCH.
Default on Debts ForestaIIs
New Order Sought in
World Relations.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Ambassador Paul Claudel called this
morning at the State Department, pre-
senting to Secretary Stimson 3 note
from the ad interim French govern
ment, wherein Mr.. Edouard Herriot in
forms the Government Of this country
that owing to his resignation 1t IS i'm
possible for him to continue the debt
negotiations or make the payments due
today.
From the official technical point of
eniy oehsr snd nsts W not
be regarded as having defaulted until
midnight tonight.
In high Official quarters the fact that
number of debtor nations have not
paid the December installment is Of far
less consequence than the tremendous
implications Of their action. The de-
lection among officials in responsible
administrative quarters is not due to
the fear Of financial embarrassment
caused by the defaulting Of these ma
tions, but by the inevitable result Of
such an action In the world Of tnterna-
tional relations.
Seek New Order in World.
Since the end Of the World War,
especially since 1929, the world states
men under the impetus Of the Hoover
administration have been striving to
bring about q new order in interna-
tional relations. This new order was to
be based on the sanctity of interna-
tional treaties and agreements which,
this administration announced repeat
edly, could not be changed except by
mutual consent. It appeared that the
entire structure OF the world would be
based henceforth, not on force, but on
the respect of treaties, which are con-
sidered by the American Government
as binding amongst nations. On that
assumption the many disarmament con-
ferences have been called and the
United States, In its endeavor to set
an example, allowed its national de-
fense to sink below its actual needs.
and navy because Its security and Its
rights were guaranteed by treaties and
pacts and agreements
The first blow to this pleasant theory
was given last year by Japan when 1t
invaded Manchuria. After waiting for
few months, on the basis that the
Japanese government then In power
would readjust q situation which had
gotten temporarily out Of hand. Secre-
tary Stimson reminded the Japanese
government and the world Of the sane
tity Of the various treaties which were
ruthlessly violated by Japan. He OBJ
tanned no satisfaction from the Japa-
nese government, but managed to arouse
the League of Nations, which decided to
begin an investigation with the object
of bringing Japan back to legality.
Blow by Japan Serious.
The blow given by Japan to treaties
was serious but there was this consola-
ton for the advocates Of peace by
pacts-that the rest of the world was
more or less in agreement with the ex-
preston Of policy Of the United States.
Japan, It was stated behind the scenes
Of the other great powers. was young
nation, and consequently bound to be
impetuouS. Proper handling, without
offending her susceptibiities, was the
treatment suggested by those who knew
that country. The result of such .
treatment, 1t was said, would inevitably
open her eyes that the days when
treaties and pacts were mere scraps Of
paper have passed never to return.
Now France, one Of the oldest and
most civilized nations In the world;
France, which has for years spoken
about the sanctity Of treaties as the
only way to assure peace and security
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