Evening star., 1932-02-24
Text of StimsOn Letter
Notifies Senator Bordh of This Government Position
That Violation of Existing Treaties Is Responsible
for Situation in Far East.

Germany has signed it, but her Parlia-
ment has not yet ratified it.
1T must be remembered also that
this treaty was one of several treaties
and agreements entered into at the
washington Conference by the various
powers concerned, all of which were
interrelated and interdependent.
No one Of these treaties can be dis
regarded without disturbing the general
understanding and equilibrium which
we're intended TO be Accomplished and
effected by the group of agreements ar
rived at in their entirety.
The Washington conference was es-
sentially a disarmament conference.
aimed to promote the possibility of
peace in the world not only through
the cessation Of competition in naval
armament but also by the solution of
various other disturbing problems
which threatened the peace of the
world, particularly in the Far East.
These problems were all interrelated.
The Willingness of the American Gov
ernment to surrender its then COM
manding lead in battleship construc-
ton and to leave its positions at Guam
and in the Philippines without further
fortlhcatlon, was predicated upon,
among other things. the self-denying
covenants contained in the nine-power
treaty, which assured the nations of
the world not only of equal opportunity
for their Eastern trade but also against
the military aggrandizement of any
other power at the expense of China.
Other Promises Considered.
One cannot discuss the possibility of
modifying or abrogating those provi-
sionS of the nine-power treaty without
considering at the same time the other
promises upon which they were really
dependent.
Six years later the policy Of self
nial against aggression by a stronger
against a weaker power, upon which
the nine-power treaty had been based,
received a powerful reinforcement by
the execution by substantially all the
nations OF the world of the pact of
Paris, the so-called Kellogg BRAND
pact.
These two treaties represent inde-
pendent but harmonious steps taken for
the purpose of aligning the conscience
and public opinion of the world ir
favor of system of orderly develop
ment by the law of nations including
the settlement Of all controversies bV
methods Of justice and peace instead of
by arbitrary force. The program for
the protection of China from outside
aggression is an essential part of any
such development. TIE signatories and
adherentS of the nine-power treaty
rightly felt that the orderly and peace
full development of the 400,000,000 of
;,,L
to the peaceful welfare of the entire
world and that no program for the wei
fare of the world as a whole could
afford to neglect the welfare and pro-
lection Of China.
Opposes Modification.
The recent events which have taken
place in China, especially the hostilities
which having been begun in Manchuria
have latterly been extended to Shang-
hal, far from indicating the advisa bility
of any modification of the treaties we
have been discussing. have tended to
bring home the vital importance of the
faithful observance of the covenants
therein to all of the nations interested
i'll the Far East.
1t is not necessary in that connection
to inquire into the causes of the con-
troversy or attempt to apportion the
blame between the two nations which
are unhappily involved; for, regardless
of cause or responsibility, it is clear
beyond peradventure that a situation
has developed which cannot. under any
circumstances, be reconciled with the
obligations of the covenants of these
two treaties, and that if the treaties
had been faithfully observed such
situation could not have arisen.
The signatories of the nine-power
treaty and Of the Kellogg BRAND pact
who are not parties to that conflict are
not likely to see any reason for mod
flying the terms of those treaties. To
them the real value of the faithful per-
formance of the treaties has been
brought sharply home by the perils
and losses to which their nations have
been subjected in Shanghai
That is the view of this Government
We see no reason for abandoning the
enlightened principles which are en-
bodied in these treaties.
We believe that this situation would
have been avoided had these covenants
been faithfully observed. and no ev1-
dence has come to us to indicate that
a due compliance with them would
have nterfered with the adequate pro-
lection of the legitimate rights in China
of the signatories of those treaties and
their nations.
U. s. Position Made Known.
On January 7 last, upon the instruc-
ton of the President, this Government
formally notified Japan and China that
it would not recognize any situation,
treaty or agreement entered into by
those governments in violation OF the
covenants of these treaties which az
fected the rights of our Government or
its citizens in China.
If a similar decision should be reach
ed and similar position taken by the
other governments of the world, a
caveat will be placed upon such action
which, VIC believe, will effectively bar
the legality hereafter of any title or
right sought to be obtained by pressure
or treaty violation and which, as has
been shown by history in the past, will
eventually lead to the restoration to
China of rights and titles of which she
may have been deprived.
In the past our Government, as one
OF the leading powers on the Pacific
Ocean, has rested its policy upon an
abiding faith in the future of tie peo-
pie OF China and upon the ultimate
success in dealing with them of the
principals OF fair play, patience and
mutual good will. We appreciate the
immensity of the task which lies before
her statesmen in the development OF
her country and its government
The delays in her progress, the in
stability OF her attempts to secure a
responsible government were foreseen
by Messrs. Hay and Hughes and their
contemporaries and were the very OBJ
stacles which the policy of the open
door was designed to meet.
We concur with those statesmen, rep
resentlng all the nations in the Wash
ington Conference. who decided that
China was entitled to the time neces-
sary to accomplish her development.
We are prepared to make that our policy
for the future.