Montana labor news., 1932-08-18
THE WASHINGTON SCENE
(By todd

WAsHINGToN-FP)-In the big mailing Don in the basement of the
huge granite rookery occupied by the State Department these steamy
midsummer days, there is hurried activity. Sacks destined to travel down
to the South American capitals and acros the Atlantic and through the
Mediterranean and Red seas and to all the remote political eenters on the
earth are being stuffed with letters and memoranda and fresh printed docu-
ments stating that the United States is seeking peace and disarmament and
Justice among the nations. And the choicest document in the list is
Secretary Stimsons speech of Aug. s, assuring the French and warning
the Japanese that the Pact of Paris-the Kenogg-Brand Pact-s a con-
slltatve agreement by all nations to maintain the security o their neigh
bors.
Delivery of this speech, N the " of the return of the League of Ma
lions Councils special commission from Manchmia has given Mr.. Sthnson
much satisfaction. His reference to the "moral disapproval of the whole
world" as a force of new significance in international law, when directed
at an aggressor' has stirred up tn japanese foreign ONCE since !" ceals
is aimed n that direction. If the military dictatorship of Japan resents
the suggestion, and proceeds to grab some of the territory IF northern
China, south of the Great Wall which marks the Manchurian boundary,
the Secretary of State will look upon himself as a true prophet.
1t is unlikely that the United States will resist by force any Japanese
invasion of China, or that Japan will attack any territory of the United
States. But since the failure of the arm reduction conference at Geneva
became apparent, even to Mr. Stimson, several months ago, the head of
the State Department has turned his attention more and nor to the
possibility of assuming the role of moral arbter in the Far East. Granted
that the japanese military cabal will attempt to take a part of China
proper, in addition to Manchuia, and will safely count upon the unwilling
ness of the United Stated to make war in defense of Chinese generals rule
of this territory, he could still pass moral Judgment on Japanese brigandage.
And that would be pleasing to many American voters n a presidential
campaign year.
The Manchurian conquest carried out by Japan since her deliberate
seizure of Mukden and other cities last September has been a thorough
job. Thirty million Chinese are under the domination of a japanese army
OF not ove 125oOo men Local outbreaks by chinese lrreguiars are
suppressed by quick concentrations of Japanese forces. Yet the Chinese
remain sunen, and Japanese trade has not expanded in Manchuria S the
Tokyo bankers had hoped it would. Not even the general belief that the
French government is backing this japanese venture has prevented the
Lytton commission of the League Council from concluding that the Japa-
nese are glorifed bandits, not quite able to get away with their booty.
Whythen, Mr. Stmsons interest in persuadng the world that the Kl-
logg Pact binds the world to find Japan guilty of aggression against China?
The answer seems to be that China remains the most attractive potential
market in the world for American exports, and the favor of the Chinese
people-44O 600 600 of them-is worth speaking and writing for. China
is harred by military leaders whose greed has virtually forced scores of
millions of her people to make a upon all miltarists, and to create a
communist government which rules wide areas in five provinces of the
Yangtze valley. These warlords have for 81 years failed to hold together
in the face of Japanese attack. Their devotion to the radical statesman
Sun Vat Sen was largely lip service. Sun urged close affihaion with
Soviet Russia. The Chinese communist movement claims Sun as its first
inspiration, although the naionaists also proclaim him, dead, as the symbol
of their rule, while suppressing his principles.
Mr.. SImson does not want China to look to Moscow for sympathy II
guidance He wants China to remain capitalist, and to welcome American
instead of japanese exploitation. He believes the one is good for China,
and the other is evil. Hence he indcts Japanese violation of the pledged
peace of the world.