The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-04
ANGLO-FRENCH
SUPPORT FOR
JAPAN Barred
Trade With Invaders Seen
to Keep Yangtze Area
Free From War.
SEVERE BLOW AT CHINA
Understanding May Mean
Certain Loss of
Manchuria.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
Scripps- Howard Foreign Editor


WASHINGTON, March 4.-Indi-
cations that Great Britain and
France are supporting Japan, at
least to the exent of a certain
amount of moral backing. today cast
a shadow across the far eastern
stage.
The price of this support appar-
emily is abandonment of the
Yangtze valley as a Sino-Japanese
battlefield. Unless the Chinese
throw a monkey wrench into the
works, therefore, Japan is expected
shortly to transfer her military and
political activities in China to an
other terrain.
This compliance with Anglo
French desires, it is believed, will
make it possible for these two coun-
tries to prevent the League of Ma
lions assembly, now in session at
Geneva, doing anything drastic
against Japan.
Join to Block Action
If the Shanghai truce material
ICES, France and Britain are ex-
pected to block any very definite
action bearing on Manchuria and
Mongolia until the league commits
sion, appointed months ago, but
which arrived at Shanghai only
Thursday can make it's report.
The report, according to MEM
berS of the commission, will take
a long time-perhaps a year-to
produce.
Meantime, Manchuria and eastern
inner Mongolia, which the COM
niSSionerS are to investigate, have
been transformed into a new and
independent state. The former
hoy emperor" of China, Henry Pu
vi, has been sey up as its ruler. /"
If this new independent" state
thus carved out of China by the
word of Nippon continues to give
a fair imitation of functioning
under its own steam, observers here
predict, the leagues commissioners
hardly will dare report back that
its independence is a fake Or that
IL is a puppet OF japan.
Paves Way for Annexation
Should Great Britain or France,
or both, recognize the new state,
admittedly the territory would be
lost definitely to China and the way
paved for annexation, "by request, %
at the hands of Japan. And cables
indicate that London is considering
the move.
British policy, under the present
tory government, is directed by
what is known the world over as
the "Hongkong mind" The Hong
kong British are the most react
ionary in the empire. China exists
to be exploited China's 450,00O,000
people are just market and a
source Of cheap labor. Chinese ma
tionalism is cockiness, something to
be put down.
To a certain extent, the Hongkong
idea is prevalent elsewhere in
Europe. Certainly France has
been pro-Japanese from the begin
ming. Together, Britain and France
successfully have blocked effective
anti-war action by the council of
the league from the start to the
present time.
British Act, When Hurt
Neither country has any great
material interest in Manchuria or
Mongolia.
When the Japanese attacked
Shanghai, however, it was a differ
ent Story-at least to the British.
The Yangtze valley is Britain's
sphere of interest" And when it
looked as if Japan intended to
carry her war up that valley, into
the interior, Britain began to act
in earnest.
Japan was given to understand
very plainly that unless she called
off her Shanghai show, Britain and
France would find it difficult, at
Geneva, to prevent the half a hun
dred smaller members of the as
Sembly from getting away with
vote of sanctions.