Evening star., 1932-01-30
America at Shanghai.

America at Shanghai.
The degree of American RESPONSE
bility for the maintenance Of order
at Shanghai has been definitely indi-
gated in Secretary Stimson's statement,
issued yesterday AS a result Of ex-
changes between this Government and
that of Great Britain the United States
has notified Japan that there should
be no military occupation" of the Inter
national Settlement by Japan unless
the municipal force became clearly in
adequate to protect life and property. "
Japan has answered in assurance that
the international rights and interests
in Shanghai will not be interfered
with" Great Britain has made the
same suggestions" to Japan. Both
the United States and Great Britain
have laid the same proposition before
France and Italy. mo other proposals
for international action" says the Sec
retary of State, have been made by
the American Government"
On this basis there is no occasion
for apprehension on the score of Amer
lean intervention in the situation in
China. The sole concern of the United
States relates to the preservation of its
interests as compassed by the bounds
Of the International Settlement. If
Japan respects those interests, no mat
ter how far it may go in the direction
of conflict with China beyond those
bounds, there can be no occasion for
action by this Government, whether
Singly or in conjunction with Great
Britain or the other powers which
participate in the maintenance Of the
International Settlement.
TOdays news from the Far East
indicates the possibility, indeed the
probability, of conflict Chang Kai-
Shek, former president of China and
now virtually at the head of the
Marking government, has called upon
all the factions to unite in war with
Japan. Start has been made toward
for that purpose. 1t is stated at Toxic
that Japan is considering the formation
of an eXpeditionary army, to be sent
to Shanghai, a decision to be made
within twenty-four hours. Some hesita-
tion is indicated on the part of the
general staff of Japan, which appears
to have gained the control of govern
ment at Toxic. Reluctance is manifest
lest large-scale military operations may
involve the risk of international COM
plications.
The League of Nations Council dis
CusseS ways and means of intervention.
Steps are contemplated leading to the
creation Of an international commission
to examine the situation at Shanghai
and report Immediately to the Council.
Meanwhile the situation develops rapid
ly, perhaps too speedily to allow any
effective measures to be adopted. 1t is
evident that the machinery of the
League is cumbersome and, in a crisis
such as this, inefficient for an emer-
genCy. 1t was likewise evident in the
Manchurian affair, which was permitted
to progress to the point Of actual
accomplishment of Japan'S purpose to
occupy the provinces while debates
proceeded at Geneva.
The United States is not member
OF the League. 1t cannot be involved
in any collective action in China In
the name Of the League. 1t has gone
quite as far as it can go, and, indeed,
as far as ii should go, in effecting an
agreement with Great Britain to ask
Japan-not to demand, for to demand
means to be prepared for compulsion
in the event of refusal-to respect the
International rights at Shanghai
As for the menace of an outbreak of
hostilities between Japan and Russia IN
Northern Manchuria, involved in the
proposed seizure Of the Chinese Eastern
Railroad for troop movements, there
seems to be little danger. Russia states
that it will agree to such a use of the
line if China, its partner in the owner
ship of the road aSSentS. If Japan,
assuming Chinas dissent, proceeds TO
use the line, Russia will in all likeli-
hood not interpose more than formal
protest. There is no disposition on the
part of Russia to engage just now in
a conflict which would require the
shifting into Asia of large portion Of
its army, the presence of which in Eu-
ropean Russia is essential to the main
tenance of the existing order.