Evening star., 1932-03-11
ACTION Of LEAGUE
RAISES HOPE HERE
State Department Gratified
That Peace Plan Follows
U. S. Policy.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

A slightly more hopeful feeling pre-
! vailed in diplomatic circles tooay III re-
gard to the Far Eastern situation.
The news that the Assembly OF the
League of Nations had decided TO take
what appears in Washington to be ef-
fective steps to settle peacefully the
Sino-Japanese conflict is considered en-
couraging by the State Department
Offcials seem also gratifled that Secre-
tary Stimsons policy regarding tne
whole crisis appears now completely
vindicated by the steps the League OF
Nations intends to take, which follow
closely the American note OF January
to Japan and China.
The fact that the League Assembly,
has considered it necessary to amend
the last paragraph of the draft pro-
posal so as to read that "it Is incum-
bent on the members Of the League
not to recognize any situation, treaty
or agreement which may be brought
about by means contrary to the cove
nant of the League and the Kellogg
pact" is another indication the League
means to do business this time ano
wants our complete collaboration.
This can be obtained easier, from the
technical point of view, by bringing the
Paris pact into consideration.
Program Formally Launched.
The League of Nations formally
launched its program today. Th1s
resolution. however, cannot be enforced
until it has obtained the approval OF
the council.
The mechanism for it's enforcement
is as follows:
The assembly adopts the resolution,
which for the time being is merely the
expression Of the desire of all nations
members Of the League to settle con-
f1ict in a certain manner. Then the
resolution is presented to the Council
which must approve 1t by unanimous
vote. If any of the litigants are MEM
bers of the Council, they are not per-
mitted to vote. If the resolution is
passed by the Council, it is returned to
the Assembly, which, in order to make
it effective, must approve 1t by ma
jority vote.
There was no doubt expressed that
the Assembly would adopt the reSolu-
ton. It was further pointed out that
all indications are that the Council
would approve it, although the feeling
in the British government is not very
much in favor Of taking an action as
strong as that indicated in the draft
proposal. 1t appears, however, that
the big nations have found themselves
confronted with very stubborn attitude
of the smaller nations, and for the hrst
time in the history Of the League they
have to bow to the power OF the
number.
Small Nations Speak Plainly.
Some of the smaller nations are re-
ported to have spoken plainly to the
representatives of the big nations and
told them a weak attitude on the part
Of the League would, beyong any doubt
destroy that peace organization. France
has been one of the first powers tc
recognize this fact and has not dis
couraged two of her most devoted allies
Belgium and CZeckoslovakia, from TAX
ing the lead in the move to force the
Leagues views on Japan. Great Britain
has been much slower, but her repre-
sentatives have been finally convinced
that the vital interests of the League
in fact, the very existence of the
League-must be put before the local
interests of Great Britain.
The question arises, of course, as tc
whether Japan will bow before the de-
cision of the League Of Nations and
obey whatever decision it may take tc
solve the Sino-Japanese conflict OF
whether Japan simply will tell the
League 1t has no business to interfere
in anything but the Shanghai Incl
dent. Nobody can forecast what the
Toxic government may do.
The troop movements from Japan to
the mainland are continuing. At pres
ent the Japanese have no less than so,
coo men in the Shanghai sector alone
There seems to be not the slightest
abatement in Japan's war preparations
and everything indicates preparation for
a long campaign. The policy of the
Toxic government, which can be
judged only from outward indication,
seems to be one OF q permanent ex-
pansion in China.
Point to Financial Situation.
Under the circumstances 1t is diff
cult to conceive that the japanese gov
eminent, which has already spent many
millions of dollars in the China cam
paign, would abandon its policy and
entrust the League with the settlement
oil the Sino-J Japanese dispute. Japan,
it is believed here, will not hesitate to
accept the Leagues suggestion to settle
the Shanghai problem, settlement
which would enable the Japanese staff
to use the men who are at present on
the Shanghai front for other purposes.
But it Is highly doubtful whether the
Japanese government will have the
courage to accept anything more.
On the other hand, however, certain
optimistic diplomats seem to lay stress
on the fact that Japan is In a precari-
Gus financial position, and If it flaunts
the resolution of the League adopted
unanimously by the Council and the
Assembly it may find itself completely
isolated in the world. In order to con-
tinue whatever plans the Japanese gov
ernment may have in mind, Japan must
be able to count on at least one coun-
try where it could raise loan In the
near future.
The Japanese government will Ger
tainly not find any money in the United
States. American bankers Will not en-
tertain the idea of loan. Great Britain
Is not in a position to offer any loans
to any country.
France is the only country where
the Japanese may hope to get money.
But the French bankers will find 1t
difficult to float a loan Of any size
for Japan. For such a transaction they
must obtain the consent Of the governZ
ment and it is highly improbable that
the French government would encour-
age any financial concern to loan money
to Japan. Such an act would mean
that France was working, underhano,
against the League. and such situation
cannot be acceptable TO the French
government, which Is today more than
ever interested in preserving unim-
paired the prestige Of the League.
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