Evening star., 1932-11-04
SUPPORT OF U. S.
SOUGHT BY FRANCE
FOR SECURITY PLAN
Continued From First Page)
scription with equal consideration for
all states"
AMERICAN AID DOUBTED.
United States Believed Not Ready to
Jeopardize Freedom of Action.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

That America will not join any new
peace instruments such as the anti
war pact. reported to have been sug-
gested by Premier Herriot, was the
opinion of authoritative quarters in
Washington today.
Details of the Herriot plan have not
reached Washington officially and it is
considered doubtful whether the full
plan will be submitted to the reduction
of Arms Bureau at Geneva by the
French until after the German election
which will take place next Sunday.
Consequently, it is not known whether
the French premier actually intends to
demand Americas participation in his
schemes for Frances security. The
general opinion in we'll informed quar-
ters is that France does not need Amer
ica's signature to any new peace or Sc
curlty instrument.
Will Not Jeopardize Freedom.
1t has been made clear to him that
the people of the United States will not
at the present moment be willing to
jeopardize Americas freedom of action
in case of an international conflict and
that the statement made by Secretary
of State Henry L. Stimson on August 8
that America in accordance with the
Kellogg pact, is willing to consult every
time there is danger Of serious COM
pllcatlon IS the maximum concession the
Government of this country can make
The Herriot plan for a new anti-War
pact and for the formation of an inter
national general staff to take care of
the situation in Europe is described as
an adequate measure which has
Americas approval as far as Europe is
concerned. II the other continental
countries see their way to accepting
this proposal and if the result of their
acceptance IS a substantial cut in the
present military and naval status of
those countries, America will be willing
to Go its share by further reducing its
armamentS. Naturally this country ex-
poets that all nations, including Japan
should follow the lead and make pro-
portionate cuts in their military and
naval establishments.
But the idea that all the nations
should join in a pact to determine the
aggressor is not received in official cir
cles with much favor.
Capper Resolution Cited.
The French Premier mentioned the
Capper resolution of last April which
provided that the Government of the
United States should apply an arms
and economic embargo on the nation
which breaks the peace Of the world.
Senator Capper had however, in mind
that the United States should be alone
the judge as to who the aggressor Is
in such an eventuality. And the de-
finition of the aggressor is a very diff
cult thing. Mr.. Kellogg, when he
drafted his outlawry of war pact, was
emphatically opposed to defining an
aggressor and the events which have
occurred during the last IL months
have confirmed his theory.
Japan has invaded Manchuria, stating
that she was acting in self-defense.
Although almost IA months have passed
since the outbreak of hostilities in the
Far East, the League of Nations has
not been able yet to say whether Japan
was guilty of an aggression, and the
commission sent to the Far East under
the craftsmanship of Lord Lytton has
also failed to determine with any
f1nality whether Japan could be consid-
cred the aggressor or not.
Other Factors Shown.
4 The Lytton report places the burden
of responsibilities on Japan, but admits
that there has been serious provocation
on the part of China.
IL llllo ID Ciic S4tudIloH III d CuG dliu
dried proposition as the Sino-Japanese
conflict. how much more difficult will
it be to find the aggressor in the case
Of an European conflict caused, say,
by the present Polish-German misun-
derstanding over the Dantzig Corridor
Hence the reluctance on the part of
the American diplomats to accept the
responsibility for the United States
| joining the other powers in determin-
| ing an aggressor and taking such
drastic actions as the French Premier
provides in his peace plan.