Evening star., 1932-03-06
CONFUSION RULES
IN CHINA SITUATION
Fighting Is Still Reported De-
spite Truce Accepted by
Japan.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

In international diplomatic circles IN
regard to the Far Eastern situation.
Japan has officially accepted truce.
What that truce means nobody seems
to know.
The Chinese, through their represen-
tative at Geneva, Minister Yen, have
denounced the japanese, because, in
spite of the accepted truce, the
japanese troops continue to press hard
the 18th route army and fighting is
in progress % miles northwest OF
Shanghai The japanese deny TINS,
stating that they have accepted the
truce and that the fighting reported
by the Chinese is only minor opera
ton to clean up the Shanghai area
League Requests Report.
Puzzled by this conflicting news the
League of Nations Assembly mas asked
for a report from the commanderS-m
chief of the neutral troops present at
Shanghai, and the British, the French
and the Italian admiralS have been
instructed to send a complete report
on the real situation. Admiral Taylor,
the commander CT the American forces
in the Far East was instructed on
Friday night to join the other admirals
in their investigation.
Until these reports are received the
League is bound to mark time.
The japanese wish the League to
summon a round table conference in
order to settle the Shanghai situation.
The League. however, has decided to
take no such step until it knows what
actually is happening in China. A con-
ference will not be called by the
League, according to information re-
ceived in Washington last night, un-
less:
1. The League is informed by her
own agents that hostilities have actu-
ally ceased, and
2. Japan has submitted plan for
the withdrawal of her troops within
the Shanghai area.
The members of the League fully
realize that the withdrawal of the
japanese troops, some $4,000 men,
cannot be accomplished within day or
two, but it wants Japan to give positive
assurances that the Japanese units will
be withdrawn without more delay than
Is actually necessary.
Whether Japan will do so is uncer-
tain. From all reports received from
Toxic it appears that a kind of war
hysteria has seized Japan and mill
tarism is rampant throughout the
country.
The latest news seems to indicate that
there is tendency on the part of the
japanese rulers to demand SubStan-
tial indemnity from China for all the
losses suffered by Japan in the fight
for Shanghai. That is to say, an in
demnity for the men killed in action,
whose families will have to be paid a
pension; the payment of pensions for
those incapacitated by wounds received
in action, and an indemnity for all
losses japanese property has suffered
during the 35 days of severe fighting in
Shanghai.
Fear Port Occupation.
This plan of the Japanese govern
ment is considered again to be merely
an excuse for the occupation of some
further portion of China, presumably
China's five most important seaports,
since it is evident that the Chinese can
not pay anything in their present eco
nomic and financial situation.
The nations present at the assembly
of the League of Nations have begun to
look upon Japan's intentions with the
same amount of diStrust as the nations
which have been in close touch with
Japan during these five months OF
fighting in Manchuria and Shanghai.
Without a single exception the 81 rep
resentatives of the civilized world have
reached the conclusion that Japan Is
not playing fair either with China nor
with the rest of the world.
But after all, nobody knows what can
be done to bring Japan to respect the
treaties and obligations she assumed
when she became a member OF the
League. The small nations still believe
in some direct action, while the big
powers, which have important economic
and political interests in Japan and 90
not want to be drawn into conflict
with that nation, are reluctant to take
ANYTHING more than platonic measures.
AS far as the United States Is con-
cerned, our situation is very clear.
The administration has laid down the
principles of the American policy in
the Far East twice in the course OF
the last two months; the first time by
the StimSon note of January I, When
the Secretary of State expressed IN
urequivocal terms that We insist on
the principle of the open door policy
and that this country would not recog-
nize any territorial gains Japan may
obtain by force from China; the second
time the position of the United States
was made clear in a letter Secretary
Stimson wrote to Senator Borah In
which he informed Japan and the other
sienatories of the Washington naval
treaty, the four-power pact and the
nine-power pact that all these treaties
are closely interrelated.
With these two declarations, the case
of the United States rests. Secretary
Stimson believes that he has given the
world enough ammunition to help the
other nations taken an action which,
while not being fraught with as many
angers as a boycott would be, would
nevertheless force Japan to abandon
her Haunting policies.
League Free to Act.
It is up to the League Of Nations
to choose any path it wishes to settle
Japan's case. If the League decloeS
to follow Mr. Stimson'S action, 1t Is
believed here that Japan eventually
will be forced to abandon her aggres-
sive attitude and adopt new concllia-
tory policy In such case her position
regarding her interests in Manchurla
would be greatly improved and sne
could rely on the other nations to give
her a square deal
The United States is determined to
collaborate with the League Of Nations
to bring about a peaceful settlement OF
the Far Eastern situation. 1t is likely
that American delegates will be pres
ent at the round-table conference. when
and if such a conference is held. pro-
yided however. that the State Depart
ment has positive assurances that the
conference Will not be a one-sided
affair and that China will not be
summoned in order to pay for the