Evening star., 1932-08-09
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menu TO make LlS SANCTION OF puUilC
opinion effective and to insure that the
pact Of Paris should become a living
force in the world. We have recog-
nined the hopes which it represented
We have resolved that they should not
be disappointed. We have recognized
that its effectiveness depends upon the
cultivation OF the mutual fidelity and
good faith Of the group OF nations
which has become its signatorteS and
which comprises virtually all OF the ma
tions of the world. We have been de-
termined that the new order represent
ed by this great treaty shall not fail.
In October, 1929, President Hoover
Joined with Mr.. Ramsay Macdonald.
the prime minister of Great Britain, in
o joint statement at the Rapidan, in
which they declared:
Both our governments resolve to ac-
cept the peace pact, not only as a
declaration of good intentions, but as
positive obligation to direct national
policy in accordance with its pledge.
That declaration marked an epoch.
Manchuria Is Cited.
In the Summer of 1929 hostilities
threatened between Russia and China
in Northern Manchuria. Both nations
were signatories Of the pact. 1t was
the most dificult portion of the world
in which such challenge to this treaty
could have occurred. Yet we at once
took steps to organize public opinion In
favor Of peace. We communicated with
the governments Of Great Britain,
japan, France, Italy and Germany, and
the attention of the governments OF
Russia and China was formally called
to their obligations under the pact.
Later during the same Autumn, when
hostilttieS actually broke out and MILL
tary forces Of Russia had crossed the
Manchurian boundary and attacked the
forces Of China, our Government COM
Ynunicated with all of the signatories
OF the pact, suggesting that they urge
upon Russia and China peaceIui So
luton of the controversy between them.
Thirty-seven of these nations associated
themselves with our action or signif1ed
their approval OF our attitude. Al
though the aspect of the controversy
had been extremely threatening and the
forces of Russia had penetrated nearly
n hundred miles within the boundaries
of China, the restoration of the status
QUO ante was accepted by both parties,
and the invading forces were promptly
withdrawn.
Japan Becomes Factor.
In September, 1881, hostilities broke
out between the armed forces OF Japan
and China In the same quarter OF the
world, Manchuria, and the situation
was brought to the attention Of the
Council of the League Of Nations, which
was actually in session at Geneva. We
were invited to confer as to the bearing
OF the pact OF Paris upon the contro-
versy We promptly accepted the invl-
tation, designating a representative TO
meet with the council for that purpose;
and the attention of the two disputants
was called to their obligations under
the pact by France, Great Britain, Ger
many, Italy, Spain, Norway and the
United States.
The hostilities between Japanese and
Chinese armed forces continued and
rrotracted efforts toward conciliation
were made by the Council OF the League,
which had taken jurisdiction OF the
matter. The American Government
maintained Its attitude Of sympathetic
cooperation with the efforts OF the
Council, and. acting independently
through the diplomatic channels, en-
deavored to re-enforce the Councils e1-
forts at eonciliation.
Finally, when In spite Of these efforts
Japan had occupied all of Manchuria,
the American Government formally no
tified both that country and China, on
January Z, 1882, that 1t would not rec
ogTlize any situation, treaty or agree
nent which might be brought about by
means contrary to the covenant and OBJ
legations Of the pact OF Paris.
United States Action Endorsed.
subsequently, on March IL, this ac-
ton OF the American Government was
indorsed by the Assembly of the League
Of Nations, at q meeting In which SO
nations were represented. On that oc-
casion, under circumstances Of the ut
most formality and solemnity, resolu-
ton was adopted unanimously, Japan
alone refraining from voting in which
the Assembly declared that:
1T is incumbent upon the members
OF the League Of Nations not to recog-
nize any situation. treaty or agreement
which will be brought about by means
contrary 10 the covenant Of the League
OF Nations or 10 the pact Of Paris"
These successive steps cannot be ad-
ecuately appraised unless they are
measured In the light Of the vital
change Of point of view which ! have
described in the openir" Of this ad-
dress. They were the acts of nations
which were bound together by new
viewpoint toward war, as well as by
covenants which made that viewpoint
reality.
Except for this new viewpoint and
these covenants, these transactions in
fsr-off Manchuria, under the rules OF
international law heretofore obtaining,
might not have been deemed the con-
Germ of the United States and these
so other nations Under the former
concepts OF international law when a
conflict occurred 1t was usually deemed
the concern only Of the parties to the
conflict. The others could only exer-
else and express strict neutrality alike
toward the injured and the aggreSsor.
Confiict Concerns All.
If they took any action or even ex-
pressed an opinion, 1t was likely to be
deenad a hostile act toward the nation
against which 1t was directed. The di-
rect individual interest which each ma
ton has in preventing a war has not
yet been fully appreciated, nor had that
interest been given legal recognition.
But now under the covenants OF the
Briand-Kellogg Pact such conflict be-
comes Of concern to everybody con-
nected with the pact.
All Of the steps taken to enforce the
treaty must be Judged by this new situ-
alton. AS was said by M. BRAND. quot
ing the words Of President Coolidge
An act Of war in any part of the world
Is an act that injuries the interests OF
my country" The world has learned
that great lesson and the signature of
the Brisnd-Kellogg treaty codifled it,
Thus the power Of the BRAND Kellogg
treaty cannot be adequately appraised
unless 1t Is assumed that behind it rests
the combined weight Of the opinion of
the entire world united by a deliberate
covenant which gives to each nation
the right to express its moral judy
ment. When the American Government
took the responsibility Of sending its
note Of January z last 1t was q pioneer
1t was appealing to o new common
sentiment and to the provisions Of q
treaty as yet untested.
ITS own refusal TO recognize the fruits