Evening star., 1932-03-13
u. S. HALSLEACUE
DEMANDS ON TOXIC
Civilized Nations Get To.
Qether on Moral Issue for
First Time in History.
BY CONTANTINE BROWN.

adopted the ln1unCGCn TO Japan ASKING
the Toxic government to withdraw its
troops from the invaded territories In
China, has caused a feeling Of relief
and satisfaction In administration
circles. For the first time In history,
all the civilized nations-there were 81
countries represented at Geneva-have
gotten together on a moral issue ana
seem to be decided to prevent one
country taking advantage Of its power
f,,l military machinery to obtain trade
and territorial advantages from another
country less equipped and weakened by
internal strife.
All the small nations, out Of motives
of self preservation, have adopted the
American policy, as expressed by Secre-
tary of state Stimson in his note OF
January 7, and have induced the some
what more reluctant big European
mowers to follow our lead by warning
Japan that whatever military oojectives
she attains in China, they viii not
recognize any territorial gains obtained
by force. ,-. 49,,
American theory that 1t Is no use 10
90 to war in order to obtain territorial
OF commercial advantages has oeen
effectively adopted by the civilized
world.
Success Not Yet Certain.
The move of the League of Nations
where the small powers. for the nrst
time since the organization OF tnat
body, have had q chance to express
and enforce their wishes in spite OF
certain opposition of the big powers is
regarded in Washington as highly sat
isfactory.
At the same time it is by no means
certain that the move of the League
will be completely successful: Japan
has embarked into a policy in which
nobody can fathom the actual on)ec-
tiyes and intentions. At one time 1t
appeared as if her civil government
was completely in opposition to the
methods of the military cast ana was
trying to oppose its methods, II not lIs
aims, by bringing about some sort OF
a peaceful solution of the Manchurian
problem with the Chinese government
That government Is, however, no longer
in power. The present government Is
in fun harmony with the military and
appears to have great imperiahstlc
ambitions. Foreign Minister Iosnl-
zawa. in a statement made some time
ago. frankly declared China Is only
geographic expression and that its lack
OF ability to organize itself makes 1t
imperative for the japanese who nave
vital interests IN that country to go
in and organize it in accordance with
their needs Foreign office spokesmen
have spoken in similar language.
Therefore, we are led to believe that
by a combined diplomatic and military
action the japanese government is en-
deavoring at present to obtain full
control Of major part Of China.
BY occupying Manchuria and by con-
trolling Chinas seaports--this can be
done easily because the japanese have
a large and efrcient navy--the Japa-
nese can, If they want to, fulfill their
imperiaIistic aims
F1rt Part Accomplished.
The first part Of the japanese pro-
gram already has been accomplished by
the establishment of an alleged irlde-
pendent state in Manchuria under the
military control of the japanese. The
second part OF the program, the occu-
patton of Chinas principal ports. has
not begun yet. The japanese foreign
It announced that Japan desired the
demilitarization of those ports. This
trial balloon, launched early In Febru-
ary, has met with q strong opposition
on the part of the American Govern
ment.
Last Fridays action of the League Is
aimed at preventing this DEVELOPMENT
but It is unknown whether the japanese
are in mood of Haunting the Leagues
injunction or not.
What the American policy will be in
such case is easily understandable
when we follow the diplomatic develop
ments of the last six months.
Our diplomatic action can be divided
In three distinct phases: The first be-
tween September 18 and December 10.
The second between December 10 and
January and the last between jan
uary 7 and January 2s.
In the first phase the State Depart
ment was genuinely convinced the
civil government in japan would be
able to prevail over the army ulti-
mately and stop the military action Of
the Japanese in Manchuria. Baron
Shidehara, foreign minister at that
time, gave this government definite
promises that as soon as the atmos-
phere was cleared he would be able
to get the military TO withdraw into
the japanese zone in Manchuria along
the railway line The State Depart
ment accepted all the feeble explana-
tions given by the Japanese Ambassa-
dor at Washington as to why the jap
anese forces were compelled to advance
into a territory where the japanese
interests were limited. We frequently
recognized that strategic motives had
to be taken into consideration when
an army had embarked into q military
adventure.
Cola ab0ration offered.
The primary thought of the State
Department however was to sit tight
and do nothing that might jeopardize
the existence of the libersl-minded
government Of Premier Wakatsuki
When the Council Of the League de-
cided to step in, early in October 1881.
we offered our complete collaboration
for the cause Of peace, advising, how
ever, the Geneva statesmen to 20 easy
and not make the situation OF the
Wakatsuki cabinet mere difhcult than
was necessary.
Then the Wakatsuki- -Shidehara cab
met fell. The Japanese plans in re-
gard to China became more obvious
after the occupation of Chinchow by
the Japanese troops. an occupation
which took place despite the formal
assurances the japanese government
had given US that the Japanese troops
would not occupy Chinchow. The sec
or1d and more active phase of our pol