The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-03-03
HOW JAPANESE AFFECT
PEACE PACTS


anese invasion of China has had on
international peace agreements and
international organizations for the
settlement of world problems is vivid
" brought forth in the current issue
of the National Republic in an article
written by Prof. Verne Dyson, of the
University of the Philippines, for the
China Weekly Review. In part Pro-
fessor Dyson says:
"The tragedy of war precedes the
battle; the lifeless soldier upon the
field, the ruined church and the gen.
eral destruction of the landscape are
only objective indications of ante
cedent moral disasters. Blood and
physical death are merely the out
ward symbols of tragedy. The real
catastrophe is spiritual.
"Manchuria, in advance of the war
which threatened there, has already
become a world tragedy, an interna-
tional misfortune more far-reching
in it's consequences than any actual
destruction of life and property which
might occur. 1t will require some
weeks yet for humanity to realize
fully the extent of its loss.
"The truth is that all the formulas
for world peace, all disarmament
schedules, all the treaties and elabo-
rate diplomatic structures which the
nations patiently erected during the
past ten years to prevent war have
been swept away. A stubborn Japan
in Manchria has ended a fair dream,
a great delusion. The word Failure
must be write large upon these
instruments by which humanity, ex-
hausted by the greatest of all wars,
had hoped to end war:
1. The Four-Power Pacific Treaty.
2. The Five-Power Treaty.
8. The Nine-Power Treaty.
4. The Kellogg-Briand Peace Pact.
5. The League Of Nations.
"The Four-Power Pacific Treaty,
signed on December 13, 1921, was the
first of the hopeful agreements
reached at the Washington Confer
ence. By this treaty Great Britain,
France, Japan and the United States
agreed to respect each others posi-
tions in the Pacific, to settle by
special conference any disputes which
might arise between them, to confer
land jointly determine upon the best
means of settling any dispute which
might arise between party to the
treaty and an outside nation. This
treaty, although favorable to Japan,
was the first step in the postwar pro-
gram to establish world peace. 1t def
initely covers the present Manchurian
situation. Japan has violated the
spirit and letter of the agreement in
not seeking the advice of Great Brit
ain, France and the United States in
attempting to settle the misunder-
standing with China. This treaty,
therefore, may be regarded as fail
ure.
"The Four-Power Pacific Treaty
which at the time was regarded as
definite achievement in favor of world
peace and the abolition of war, was
followed on February 6, 1922, by the
Five-Power Treaty, signed also at the
Washington Conference. This agree
ment apparently was predicted upon
the Four-Power treaty, which suppos-
edly afforded basis for further ad
vance toward international harmony.
The second treaty provided for limita-
ton of naval ornaments in keeping
with the proposals of Secretary
Charles of the United States Depart
ment of State, and for the mainten-
ance of the status quo in respect for
the Notifications in certain parts of
Cne racine. Inc greaC uelusloh oe-
gan with these two treaties. Next
came the supposedly still more pow
erful Nine-Power Treaty signed also
on February 6, 1922, and in turn pred
icated upon the two previous COM
pacts. In this agreement China was
included and became a party to the
Open Door policy. The powers, in
GLIDING Japan, bound themselves to
respect China's sovereignty, indepen-
dence and territorial and administra-
tive integrity. These are high sound
ing phrases which meant much more
to the world at that time than they do
at the present momemnt.