Evening star., 1932-01-29
SHANGHAI REPORT
ASKED. BY GENEVA
Ambassadors "Requested to
Investigate" China In
vokeS Drastic Articles.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated PTeSS.
GENEVA, January 20. - The II
neutral members Of the League of Ma
tions Council were reliably reported
today to have proposed that the Am
basSadors of the great powers at Toxic
assemble quickly In Shanghai to in
vestigate the situation there and re-
port to the League.
The Chinese delegation to the League
decided today to invoke articles 10 and
Is of the League covenant, which re-
quire the League to take drastic action
to preserve the territorial integrity OF
China against military aggression.
Naotaki Sato, representing Japan,
challenged the Councils right to deal
with the Far Eastern issue under ar
ticles of the League covenant invoked
by China. He renewed his inSiStence
the conflict be settled by direct nego-
tiation between the belligerents
The articles of the covenant which
guaranteed political independence and
territorial integrity envisaged entirely
different conditions than exist now be-
tween China and Japan, he said, add
ing that Toxic never has ceased trying
to settle the dispute by direct negotia-
ton and will continue those efforts.
Japan Is Overruled.
Joseph -Boncour, the French
man, who is acting as chairman at
this meeting, oyerruled the Japanese
and asked Sir Eric Drummond, the
League secretary, to outline his plan
of procedure. Sir Eric said he would
have his answer ready tomorrow
Before the Council adjourned Mr.
Sato registered his reservations to the
chairman's ruling and reminded the
Council 1t was necessary to proceed
very slowly "in matter which might
so gravely compromise the peace Of the
world"
w. w. Yen, Chinese spokesman at the
League Council, called for drastic meas
ures. The new Chinese appeal, switch
ing the standpoint from milder article
of the treaty, was made in letter to
Secretary General Sir Eric Drummond
today
Mr.. Yen said he took the action on
instructions from his government at
Nanking. The League Council was
slated to meet at 80 this afternoon
Informed quarters here said they be-
lieVed Mr.. Yen. who is also Chinese Am
basSador at Washington was acting in
close harmony with the United States
Government in taking the new stand
Chinas appeal heretofore has been
based on the leSs-draStic article IL OF
the covenant.
China reserved the right to invoke
any and all other articles which may
be warranted by the developments in
China, Mr. Yen said.
He indicated he has had orders for
some time to extend the appeal TO
these two articles If the events in the
East reached certain stage. .
American Consul Curtis Everett of
|
| conferred with Ambassador Yen early
today,
| While reports of fighting at Shanghai
were reaching Geneva, II members OF
the Council of the League Of Nations
| in secret session adopted a declaration
that the League will not recognize any
| japanese agreement imposed by
Japan's military invasion.
| Position Like Americas.
| This position in effect ranged the
council alongside the United States.
| The declaration was adopted at meet
| ing not attended by the japanese and
| Chinese delegates.
The Councilmen took their stand
upon the famous article X Of the
! covenant of the League which aroused
such heated controversy In America II
years ago.
The declaration will be made public
| according to plans announced tonight
at Council session tomorrow by Chair
man Joseph Paul-Boncour of France.
1t may not be submitted in advance to
! Naotake Sato and DR.. w. w. Yen, the
Japanese and Chinese delegates.
The chief effect of the declaration
was said to be moral. 1t was under
stood to refer definitely to the note sent
recently by Secretary Of State Stimson
to Japan and China, and to associate
the Council members with the prlncl-
pies of Col Stimson's conclusions.
! = In effect, it was said, the United
States and the League were saying to
Japan. We warn you that we Will not
permit you to enjoy the fruits OF mill
tary aggression
United States Party.
Article X of the League covenant
| pledges members to respect and pre-
| serve the territorial integrity and politl-
| cal independence of any member state
against external aggression. Thus ii
embodies and extends the pledge in the
| first article of the nine-power pact, to
| which the United States is party.
Article XIV is based on the hypothesis
of a dispute likely to lead to a rup-
| ture WllCn mas IOI DttiA SuUlIlIIttS'
| to arbitration or judicial settlement
Under this article the Council seeks a
| settlement by unanimous vote OF all
except the parties to the dispute.
The Council is in difficult position
| as a result of Markings new tactics
| The IL neutral members yesterday
adopted a declaration agreeing in prin-
ciple with the recent American note
to Japan and asserting that no Sino-
japanese agreement arising from the
present military occupation would be
recognized.
1t was intended to read the declara-
tion today, point to the creation of the
Manchurian Investigation Committee
| and ring down the curtain so far a.;
the Council is concerned Now in the
face of the occupation of Shanghai the
declaration already sounds archaic and
may not be read at all.
The present attitude in the Council
seems to favor doing nothing at all or
the ground that public opinion in the
various countries will not support g
strong policy. Talk of a diplomatic OF
economic boycott Is received with scep-
ticisn and suggestions of military CO.