Evening star., 1932-11-22
FRENCH REFUSAL
OF JAPANESE BID
FOR PACT REPORTED

Continued From First Page)
sver to a deputy who raised the ques-
tion a few days ago in Paris.
The adjacent regions referred 10 are
obviously for Japan, Manchurla. the
scene of the present Far Eastern crlsls'
and far to the south; for France, the
Chinese Province of Yunnan, which
borders on the French colony OF lnoo-
China.
French Interests In Yunnan.
According to certain well-informeo
Chinese. France now virtually controls
the Yunnan railways and there are SAID
to have been financial dealings between
the French and a local Yunnan war
lord.
Furthermore. the new commercial
treaty which France and China nave
been trying to negotiate has never oeen
concluded, because the French want a
clause inserted, the Chinese say. NVmg
France preferential rights in Yunnan
For all these reasons END also per
haps for reasons concerning Russia and
the European system of alliances. Japan
seems to have believed throughout the
Manchurian affair that it could count
solidly on French support. In this be-
lief japan. 1t is said, has been en-
couraged by the attitude OF french
financiers and certain officials IN Paris
nossiblv also by the alleged attitude OF
Gen. Henri Edouard Claudel, French
member of the Lytton Commission
which surveyed the Manchurian issue
Conflict arose. however, between the
French Far Eastern policy and the
French League of Nations policy Whle
the Paris press has tended to sym
pathize with Japan, French public opln-
ion generally sympathizes with emma
When Henry l.. Stimson, American Sec
retary of State. conversed with the then
French premier. Andre Tardleu, In
Paris on the subject last Spring, Tar
djeu is said to have promised that
| France, in spite Of its special position
in the Far East, would always go as far
as Great Britain in supporting possible
| League of Nations action
Believed TO Have Gone Further.
The Herriot government in its con-
versations with American diplomats
! believed to have gone even much 1ur-
ther.
1t was presumably without hesitation
! therefore, that the Herriot government
| declined the recently prodereo jap
| anese alliance.
! At the same time certain pro-Jap-
/ anese influences in Paris are reported
still to be acting and what position
France may finally take seems obscure
! Neither Great Britain, Germany mol
| Italy appears to be disposed to lead the
! struggle against Japan here, and France
| in the circumstances, would Doubtless
be the last to undertake diplomatic
crusade all alone against Japan, the
more so as the story Is now being CIR
culated everywhere that President-eleci
| Roosevelt intends to modify the So
called Stimson policies.
The League Council will resume 1t'
debate on the Lytton report tomorrow
Japan's tactics, supported possibly pN
Britain, France, Germany and Italy
will doubtless be an effort to keep the
controversy in the hands Of the Coun'
ell. with a view to prolonged media
ton, rather than surrender 1t to I'M
new special Assembly, which might II
some way condemn Japan.
AS far as Britain and France ar
| concerned, there is little doubt that th'
war debt controversy is tending to al
fec the issues on Manchuria In a sens
unfavorable to what is believed to b.
the American viewpoint.
(Copyright 1922