Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-02-03
REVISED PACT SEEN
AIM OF JAPANESE
Shanghai Situation Regarded
as Somewhat Easier
Despite Fighting.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Despite the battle which is raging at
present in Shanghai, the situation in
the Far East is considered in official
circles in Washington as easier.
The Chinese government has informed
the United States Government that it
accepts in full the friendly offer of
mediation of this Government and OF
that Of the other three powers; the
Japanese government has unoficially
inttmated that our offer of mediation
is favorably considered by Toxic. A
definite answer will probably be sent
tomorrow. The real reason is that the
japanese government intends to make
certain reservations to the fifth point
OF the American-allied peace plan.
This point Is 'tnat upon acceptance
OF the conditions for the cessation of
hostilities, prompt advances are to be
made in negotiations to settle all out
standing controversies between the two
nations in the spirit Of the pact of
Paris and the resolution of the League
OF Nations of December 8, without prior
demand or reservation and with the aid
OF neutral observers or participants"
Hope to Defeat Chinese.
Pending the sending of a note of ac-
ceptance, however, the japanese gov
eminent is making a very serious effort
to defeat the Chinese resistance at
Shanghai where the battle between the
Chinese and the japanese forces has
assumed a character of extreme
violence.
The Japanese have brought reinforce
mentS and have replaced Admiral
Shiozowa, who seriously mismanaged
the military operations last week, by
a klnSman OF the Emperor, Admiral
Nomura
The Japanese are believed here to
be making supreme effort to dis
lodge the Chinese from their present
positions and occupy the Chinese section
of Shanghai.
1t is believed here that the Japanese
VIII succeed in their objective, and as
soon as this has been achieved thev
will be ready to open negotiations in
accordance with the wishes of the four
principal Western powers.
OF Paramount Importance.
Those who have been following
closely the developments in the Far
East are convinced that the occupa-
ton of Shanghai, If it is only a TEMPO
rary measure, is of paramount irnpor-
lance to the japanese A defeat of
their purposes at Shanghai would
weaken tremendously the Japanese
situation and their entire action since
September l9 would be jeopardized.
Furthermore, by the occupation of
Shanghai the first three points of the
Tour powers peace plan would become
void; the hostilitieS would cease i'm
medlately and there would be no longer
any question of cessation of hoStilities,
or mobllization Of new forces or with
draWal OF combatantS from all points
Of mutual contacts. The Chinese troops
would have been driven out of the
Shanghai area.
The japanese are apparently quite
willing to leave the International Set
tlement as 1t is at present, once the
Chinese troops have been driven out OF
Shanghai.
Consider Pact Revision.
1t is believed in well informed quar-
tiers in Washington that as soon as the
Shanghai military operations are sue
cesSfully concluded the japanese viii
be not only willing, but anxious, to sit
down at a round-table conference to
discuss with the Chinese and the pow
ers interested in China the new situa-
ton. The reason for their eagerness
to have a new conference is that they
hope thereby TO obtain revision of the
nine-power pact.
1t Is recalled that some five weeks ago
the Toxic foreign Office spokesman indi-
Gated clearly that the nine-poWer pact
was now obsolete and that the Japa-
nese government considered its revision
Of paramount importance.
At the time the statement was made
there was no favorable reaction either
from this country or from Great Britain
The Japanese believe, however, that
now that the shadow of war has been
hanging heavily over the United States
and Great Britain the governments of
these two countries may be willing TO
change their point of view, especially
If certain assurances were given them
that the interests of their nationals in
China would not suffer.
The japanese contention is that
there can be no question of national
government in China, as was the case
when the nine-power pact was signed
in 1922.
May Oppose Revision
If this contention Is correct, and the
Japanese are willing to prove it, it is
only natural that pact which has be-
NNen lnfn m Nf