Evening star., 1932-02-01
NATIONS
UNITE TO PREVENT
WAR IN FAR EAST
Continued From First Page.)


ningham and the captains Of the de-
StrOyerS stationed in Shanghai indicate
that while the fighting between the
Chinese and the japanese has been re-
Sumed, it may be inferred that it is IN
the nature of deSultOry firing and snip
ing
The Official authorities Of the Inter
national Settlement together with the
COnSulS Of the other nations. such as
the Dutch. the Belgian, the Portuguese.
the Swedish and other COnSulS are
doing their utmost to arrange for a
truce in order to protect the Interna-
tional Settlement from the disaStrous
effects it would have TO suffer should
that settlement become the scene OF
an armed conflict between the Japa =
neSe and the Chinese regular forces.
The efforts of the foreign Consuls
started Saturday and while a certain
amount of progress is being reported
nothing definite has been achieved as
yet. A favorable impression Of the re-
suits Of these efforts can be drawn
from the fact that in the last 48 hours
there has been no violent fighting be-
tween the regular japanese and Chinese
forces.
Inc presence OI All 1IlCIthStQ III IIltU
British American force may have ben
eficial effect on the whole situation
since the consuls can talk with greater
that they are backed by substantial
army.
French Action Expected.
Even the reports from abroad that
al iNinlI +ho
United States and Great Britain in a
common action in Shanghai do not
seem to have created any atmosphere
Of optimism in official circles in Wash
ington.
Both France and Italy have large in
terests at stake in the Shanghai Inter
national Settlement and it is ConSid
cred only natural that they should send
armed forces to protect the life and
property of their citizens.
In order to obtain satisfactory So
luton in Shanghai it is necessary TO
know what the Toxic authorities &C
tually have in mind.
There is no doubt that sincere joint
action of all the nations interested in
the International Settlement and in
China's independence as a whole would
have a tremendous effect even on the
japanese military cast in Toxic. Re
sponsible American officials cannot con-
Ceive how the Japanese would be willing
to face the whole Western world anC
continue their provocative attitude in
China if they thought this would bring
about cooperation OF the Leading
powers. They could not resist such a
pressure for "a hours.
Marking BOmbarded.
Yet. according to dispatches received
this morning by the Navy and the State
Departments. Japanese, while marking
time at Shanghai. have begun to de-
velop their operations further on the
Yangtze River and have started bonn
harding Marking, the official capital OF
China
The japanese explanation is that
troops are being massed at Marking
with a view of operating against the
Japanese at Shanghai, and that, In
accordance with the rules of war
Marking cannot be considered any more
an open city.
The question which puzzles our diplo-
mats is whether the japanese have de-
cided to restrain their operations in
Shanghai, in order to avoid direct
conflict with the European powers over
matter which interests them vitally
and continue their march into the in
terror of China with the main object
the occupation Of the Yangtze Valley, or
whether their action today at Nanking
is merely an assertion of their power
when they consider withdrawing from
Shanghai
The Japanese have gone too far, ii
was stated in official quarters to be
able to withdraw as soon as the Eu-
ropean powers put their foot down
Such an action would ruin the efforts
they have made since last September
But if they are actually confronted with
united front of all the western powers
they may have to withdraw from
Shanghai, and in order to save thei1
face with the Chinese they must SHOW
force" before doing so.