Evening star., 1932-03-01
SHANGHAI SOLUTION J
NOT yETJcERTA|N
Peace Prospects Are Better,
but Troop Withdrawal
Is Doubtful Factor.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

The prospects Of Sino-Japanese
truce at Shanghai seemed improved
this morning. according to State De-
r1rtment officials, although real solu-
ton Of the Shanghai problem Is by no
means certain.
The main reason Of the doubtful at
titude which prevails in well-informed
circles in Washington is that il Is not
clear whether the Paul Bonco,r sug-
gestionS for an armistice. which have
been reported as acceptable to Japan,
actually provide for a simultaneous
withdrawal of the Chinese and the
Japanese forces.
The Chinese have informed the
League of Nations and the American
Government that whatever Is decidod
by the powers is acceptable to China,
provided, however, the arrangements
are not unilateraIthat Is to say, the
Chinese insist that before they agrse
to come to round-table conference the
japanese troops must withdraw iron
the irpresent positions at the same tine
the Chinese forces are withdrawn l2Ls
miles from their present lines.
Discussions Started Last Week.
Whether the japanese military will
dCGEDl SUCH LoIIlS Is u1lkIlONlI LC1Cr Al
though hope is expressed that the Jap-
anese begin to realize the difnculty Of
their international position.
The truce conversations started un-
officially last wes; The japanese AM
bassadors at London, Washington, and
the representative at the League of
Nations informed their government hat
public opinion throughout the World
is beginning to shape decidedly agsinst
Japan. They advised Toxic to Initiate
conversations with the view e ar
ranging a truce, to be followed b. some
settlement regarding Shanghai. The
Manchurian question will not cone up
at all because the Japanese do not be-
lieve the powers have any business 10
interfere there and because the Ameri-
can Government and the Council of the
League maintain that this colhtry as
well as the other interested nations
have explicitly defined their positions
regarding Manchuria, which Is not to
be recognized as an Independent state.
Peace Formula Nebuous,
On this basis the Japanse felt thev
could negotiate with the Chinese about
! Shanghai and so infornne, their repre-
sentatives abroad. CONVERSATIONS pro-
ceeded between Sir JOIN Simon and
| Washington and these reAllted into the
| framing Of the Simon roposal Satur-
day. This proposal SENS, however
not to have met with tie complete ap-
proval of the japanese and was follow
ed by the Paul Boncolr proposal. the
terms of which, as fir as America Is
concerned, are still semewhat nebulous.
Little attention is paid to the fact
that fighting has seen going on In
Shanghai yesterday and today. This
Is considered in many quarters as an
| indication the JapanSse government Is
really disposed to agrse to a truce. -
The japanese Go5ernment. It a
stated, is most anxioul not to let the
japanese people thinf a truce was
necessary because the Japanese army
had failed to win Vctory over the
Chinese In order to ctn1e to an agree
ment, it was considered essential that
the japanese people shbuld be informed
that signal victory mad been gained
over the Chinese, ard although the
Japanese forces saw tneir way clear 10
destroy the Chimes. army before
Shanghai, they preferred IN the name
of humanity to cease any further oper-
ations and have agreed % truce. This
Interpretation Is considered plausible
in official quarters In Washington,
which are at present inxiously waiting
to hear whether the Japanese have
agreed to withdraw their troops from
the fighting line as primary condi-
ton Of the truce.