Evening star., 1932-08-26
j. S. AWAITS MOVE
OF LEAGUE IN CHINA
No Reply to Japan on Man.
chukio Likely Until Com
mission Reports.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

In official quarters here today it was
indicated that should new crisis break
out in the Far East because Of Japan's
activities. the future action OF the
United States would be largely deter
mined by the action of the League OF
Nations because the aims Of the League
and Cf America are similar-the respect
of signed treaties and the preservation
of peace on the basis of treaties.
A renewal of japanese military &C
tiviticS with the object OF occupying
Jehol and possibly other parts of China
is expected by observers in Washington
to begin as soon as weather conditions
will permit such operations in the Far
East. 1t is believed the advance of the
japanese Army will be resumed some
time between September IS and 20 and
will be timed to take place stimuli
taneously with the recognition of the
Manchukuo State by the japanese gov
ernment.
While officials admit such a move
will again bring to the fore the ques-
ton of the breach of the Kellogg
BRAND pact and of the nine and four
power pacts, they are reluctant to COM
ment upon the attitude the United
States Government might tax.
VIII Wait On League.
The tendency is to leave the whole
matter to the discretion of the League
of Nations which is expecting full
report of the commission headed by
Lord Lytton toward the end of Sep
tember. Whatever steps the League
will find necessary to take will be fol-
lowed by the United States.
According to reports received from
abroad. it is evident the League OF Ma
tions is at present divided into two
groups The important nations such
as Great Britain, France and possibly
Italy. would like to keep out of trouble
and hope that the report of the Leagues
commission will be couched in such
terms as not to force immediate action
against Japan.
That is to say in the foreign Offices
of the big powers it Is hoped that the
Lytton Commissions report contains at
least some passages which could be con-
strued that Japan was not wholly un-
reasonable in the actions taken in
Manchuria since September 10, 1881.
This would enable the League to gain
time without precipitatlng a crisis be-
tween Japan and the League of Nations,
then try to settle the existing dispute
bv some peaceful means and possibly
BY direct negotiations between the
Chinese and the japanese.
The indications received so far at
Geneva indicate. however, that the
draft report of the Lytton Commission
is entirely against Japan. and II 1t
were presented to the League without
changes it would offer no possible solu-
tion, but condemnation OF Japans
activities in the Far East.
Smaller Powers Active.
Under these circumstances it will be
necessary for the big powers to take
some action because the pressure OF
the minor powers, members of that
body. would force them to action as
had been the case in March, when the
Lytton Commission was formed under
the pressure of the small nations.
In official quarters here it is be-
lieved that these small nations, in SELF
defense against an eventual similar IN
cursion of their own territories as has
happened in Manchuria, will do all they
can to force the major powers OF the
League to adopt a drastic attitude
against Japan.
What could be done to force Japan's
manu-, 1OI GIle IlIllC
but it is reported from Europe that
the idea of non-recognition of the
gains Japan has made by the force OF
arms, as indicated in President Hoover's
speech of three weeks ago, is gaining
ground rapidly.
The same reports indicate that since
an economic boycott seems tmpracti-
cable and eventual severance OF diplo-
matte relations between all the nations
concerned. and Japan would ultimately
force that country to relinquish its
hold in Manchuria and the surround
ing territories and submit the whole
matter to international arbitration.
These are the thoughts which are
reported to be at present prevalent in
certain states in Europe and while the
Department of State is unwilling to
comment on what the American atti-
tude may be under such circumstances,
it is clearly indicated that the United
States Government would follow close
" whatever measures the League OF
Nations may decide to take in the Sino-
Japanese dispute.