Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-09-26
japan at Geneva.

In the duel over Manchukuo, about
to be fought to finish at Geneva be-
tween Japan and the League Of Ma
lions, the League draws first blood. On
Saturday, over the vehement objections
of the Japanese delegate. the Council
set November IA for consideration Of
the report Of the Lytton Commission
on the Sno-J Japanese conflict In Man.
churia. Mr.. Nagaoka's plaintive plea
for delay, because Of floods, poor steam
ship service and the necessity Of time
for translating 100000 words of the
report into japanese, not only fell on
deaf Council ears, but, according to the
Associated Press report, provoked gen.
eral laughter" Thereupon the jap
anese spokesman WIS overruled.
The Toxic government. on the basis
Of these initial proceedings, can be in
little doubt that Japan IS headed FOR
defeat at Geneva in its attempt fully to
justify its action in China during the
past year. The japanese recognition
of Manchukuo, ordained without wait
Ing for the League Commissions report.
appears 10 have done TOkiOS case little
good. President de Valera of Ireland.
presiding over the Council, voiced that
body's regret that Japan has proceeded
so precipitately. For twelve months, he
said, the League Council had abStained
from any action designed to prejudice
a final Sino-Japanese agreement.
Senior de Madariaga of Spain, one Of
the pillars of the League Council, echoed
President de Valeras yelled rebuke. The
Spanish delegate went the length of
asserting that Japan's action in &C
knowledging the soIFeignty Of Man
chukuo is "a matter U grave concern"
to the international community of ma
lions.
DR.. w. w. Yen, China's spokesman
at Geneva, naturally joined the ma
jority of the League Council In OPP
posing Japan's time-gaining ma
neuvers. The Chinese delegate boil
stored his own country's demand for
the promptest possible Geneva action
respecting Manchukuo by contending
that the Japanese are now preparing
to extend their military occupation into
the Province of Jehol. which lies be-
tween Manchuria and China proper.
What happens at Geneva later in the
Autumn-or Winter, for procrastination
is the first law of League Of Nations
human nature-will be determined in
the last analysis by the stand of the
larger powers. These are not likely to
maintain the only thinly-veiled pro-
Japanism which characterized their
conduct last Winter when Manchuria
and Shanghai jointly were absorbing
Geneva's attention. On that occasion
it was Great Britain and France that
mainly blocked economic sanctions"
or any other form Of chastisement for
Japan. Since then, following the lead
ership Of the montague United States,
the League Assembly has identified
itself with the Hoover doctrine" Of
n-recognition Of situations created
in violation Of international treaties
And only within the past few days
France has formally aligned itself with
the Washington Governments refusal
to recognize the independence of Man
chukuo. Russia, on the other hand.
seems ready to acknowledge the new
state q development which would i'm
mensely strengthen Jajan's political
and military position in the Far East
by extinguishing the probability Of a
clash with the Soviet government.
Before many more months are past,
unless the League breaks even its own
record for time-kiiling and s1de-step-
ping, the worlds position toward
Japan's ambitious undertaking in Man
ehuria will have to be made clear and
unequivocal.