Evening star., 1932-05-15
MANCHURIAN PROBLEM
ARRIVES AT CROSSROADS
Climb-DOwn or Showdown Is Now
Necessary, With Powers Watch
fully Waiting.

he was In Geneva, and the war debts
and reparationS problems viii not reach
point where political stock can be
taken until the end of June at the ear
lest, 1t Is obvious that Mr. Stimson's
major satisfaction comes from the po-
litical developments on the Sino-Japa-
nese controversy.
Conferred With Many.
During his two-week stay In Geneva
the American Secretary Of State con-
ferred with more than a score of high
officials - from premiers and foreign
ministers down to the well known off
cial spokesmen." Premier Tardieu of
France, Prime Minister Macdonald of
Britain, Chancellor Bruening of Ger
many, President Motta of Switzerland,
Secretary General Sir Eric Drummond
Of the League, Arthur Henderson, chair
man Of the Disarmament Conference; /;
Paul Hymans. president Of the Extraor-
dinary League Assembly and foreign
minister Of Belgium; Joseph Paul-Bon-
cour, president of the League Council
and head of the French disarmament
delegation. and Foreign Ministers Dino
Grandi Of Italy, Sir John Simon of
England, Baron Ramel of Sweden, DR..
Edouard Benes of Czechoslovakia, Au-
guste Zaleski Of Poland, Tewfik Rustu
Bey Of Turkey and Count Apponyi Of
Hmgary-all passed through the door
OF the historic Chateau Tronchin, at
BessingeS, where Mr.. Stinson, secluded
from prying ears and eyes, held court
and conferences. Among those of lesser
official rank, but nevertheless OF impor-
tant position internationally, who were
taken into the confidence Of Washing
fOn'g snNk Ven
former premier OF China and now rep
resenting Nanking before the League;
Tsuneo Matsudiarz and Salvador Mad
ariaga, former Ambassadors of Japan
and the Spanish Republic, respectively.
at Washington; the chief delegates of
South Africa, New Zealand, the British
Conservatives Lord Hailsham and Lord
Londonderry and others.
OF the galaxy of important interna-
tional political stars who twinkled be-
fore Geneva's footlights during Mr..
Stimson's visit, the only one, so far as
can be ascertained, who did not confer
more or less confldentially with Mr..
Hoover's emissary was Maxim Litvinoff,
Russian commissar Of foreign affairs.
Mr.. Stimson even absented himself
from two social affairs where Litvinoff
was scheduled to be present-the dinner
OF Sir Eric Drummond and the lunch
con of the International Association of
Journalists. 1t Is no secret that Lit
vinoff and his colleague, Anatole Luna
tscharsky, ardently desired to speak
privately with Mr.. Stimson. Various
Intermediates sought vainly for an
opening but apparently none appeared,
for Litvinoff and Lunatscharsky hurried
on to Moscow q full week before Mr..
Stimson left, TO attend the May day
celebration, at which Tewfik Bey (who
had been closeted with MIR. Stinson)
was guest OF honor.
Militarists Have Own Way.
That the Japanese militarists have
had 1t all their own way In Manchuria
thus far Is admitted. And even the
Shanghai advertisement proved more
or less of a success. in that 1t took the
attention Of the League and the great
powers of China's three northern
provinces while Toxic quietly and eff
GENTLY organized the puppet "Manchu-
kuo" state and President-Emperor Pi-
Yus army. Naturally had japan been
permitted TO go the limit at Shanghai
she would have extended her sphere OF
influence there, too-but even her most
optimistic diplomats did not count on
that, so they were not disappointed
when the withdrawal became advisable.
To put 1t graphically, Japan (or her
militarists) won the first round In Man
churia by handsome margin; the
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