The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-11-22
japan Defies Treaties

Japans defiance of the Lytton report raises two
fundamental questions. One is what did Japan do
to Manchuria2 That is question of fact The other
is what should the United States and the league do
about it? That is question of judgment
AS to the question of fact Japan asserts that
she acted wholly in self defense The Lytton report
says she did not. Moreover, Japan claims that she
had nothing to do with imposing the new govern
ment of "Manchukuo" upon the Manchurians. The
Lytton report says she did.
The world believes the Lytton report. The five
distinguished experts who constituted this commits
sion were acceptable to the dsputants competent
neutrals If the views of their respective govern
ments colored the findings of these commissioners
which is not chargedit could have been only in the
direction of eniency toward Japan, for that is the
record of those governments especially of the British
and French. The American member of the
mission General Mccoy did not dictate the report.
1t was unanimous. AS such it can not be disre-
garded.
That its findings of fact conform to the facts as
reported by the neutral newspaper correspondents on
the spot makes the against Japanese aggression
conclusive.
What are the United States and the league 60
ing to do about it? This second question, which is
not matter of fact but of judgment is not so easy
to answer as the first.
Indeed some Americans will wonder why we are
called upon to do anything about it. Manchuria is
far away. Why not let the Chinese and Japanese
fight it out by themselves?
That also was the attitude of most of us toward
the troubles of Europe when Austrian archduke
was murdered in 1914. But later we were dragged
into that and still are paying for it.
To present a repetition of that experience GER
tain antiwar treaties have been entered into by the
nations including the league treaties of which we,
are not part, and the nine-power Pacific and KEEL
logg anti-war treaties, which originated and
signed.
Our commercial and other direct interests in Man
churia are secondary to interest in the anti-war
treaties Japan has broken those treaties If she can
get away with it, then other aggressors can do like
wise and the treaties sunk.
If those ant-war treaties are junk, then whole
disarmament and foreign policy subject to reversal
That is why we can not run away from the ques-
ton what shall do about Japan's violation of the
American treaties?
We have done something about it. Our govern
ment has laid down and reaffirmed the so-called
Hoover doctrine that the United States will recog
nize territory agreements gained by force in viola
ton of treaties. From the beginning, this newspaper
has supported that policy and will continue to do
Whether that policy will be enforced effectively de-
ponds not upon the United States but upon the Euro
pean powers which hitherto have given tacit support
to Japan. 1t depends also Russia whose peace CO.
operation the United States scorned.
The United States not enforce it alone, and
should not try to do Joint action by treaty mem
bers against reatybreaker is required-not military
action, but joint diplomatic and economic action.
The fate of Manchuria is relatively important any
way, Japan can not in the long conquer the
Chinese, any more than our mperalists long could
subjugate the Mexicans against their win.
But the fate of the worlds peace machinery is all
important Neither the United States the league
can afford to scuttle the treaties.