Evening star., 1932-10-06
U.S.. KEEPS MUM
ON NLyTTON REPORT
Feels That Any Comment
Would Be Resented as
Interference.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

to be silent on the Lytton report, as
neither Secretary Stimson nor any
other responsible official thinks it neces-
sary to comment, for the time being at
least, on the finding Of the commission.
The reason for this silence is that
the Lytton Commission was body Of
investigators appointed by the League
of Nations, the commissioners have re-
ported their findings to the League and
it is up to the League to make the
necessary comments and take the neces-
sary decisions in connection with the
report. Any statement made by highly
placed American officials would be
interpreted abroad, and especially In
Japan, as an interference OF the United
States in purely League affairs and
might prejudice the powerful case set
up by Lord Lytton and his assistants.
League Puzzled.
According to reports received from
Geneva, the League is somewhat puzzled
about the whole matter and is glad to
have granted Japan a six weeks respite
to study the report, because during these
six weeks many other problems which
are confronting the principal members
of that body will be settled one way
or the other. In the meantime CONVEX
sations between the leading powers and
the minor nations will proceed with
the study of the report so that when
the committee of l9 is called they will
have fair idea of the political align
ment Of the world.
The japanese observations and COM
mentS of the report have been clear
from the day the report was published.
Japan has said no" to all the findings
and suggestions Of the five commits
sioners. This was no news for any of
the interested nations, because the
Japanese government had let it be
known weeks ago that they would not
permit any interference of foreign ma
tions with Manchukuo or their policy
In the Far East.
Japanese Reaction Weighed.
But what the League is puzzled about
Is what will Japan do in case the
League decides to take even mild meas
ure against her. Will she leave the
League. and can the powers afford to
have such an important member resign.
In responsible official quarters in
Washington the tone of the French
and the British press seems indicative.
The French newspapers have unani-
claring that the japanese Government
had no other way of handling the Chi
nese except in the manner it has en-
ployed. This attitude Of the French
press caused a certain amount of sur
prise in Washington because heretofore
it was thought that Herriot's last weeks
speech indicating an alignment of
France to the policy Of non-recognition
of the United States would influence
the tone of the French newspapers.
This attitude adopted by the French
press is considered important because
the French people in general care little
about Manchuria and form their
opinion according to what the press is
writing
Great Britain continues to be nom
committal. and although Premier
Ramsay Macdonald has always been
disposed to see a settlement of the Far
Eastern problem along the lines indi-
Gated by the United States. the rest of
the cabinet and especially Sir John
Simon are believed to sympathize with
Japan.
Italy and Germany seem to be little
interested in the outcome of the Man
churian question; their interest is
platonic and they will support the other
powers in accordance with other de-
NeppIlcilIS WiuCil are SOulR 70 lake
place in Europe in the course of the
next few weeks, the most important OF
which is the London meeting to revive
the disarmament conference.
Smaller Nations Interested.
The smaller nations which have
been heretofore greatly interested in an
equitable solution of the Manchurian
problem along the lines of the various
pacts anad treaties signed by all ma
tions since The end Of the World War,
will undoubtedly continue to press the
big powers to maintain those treaties
through the instrumentality Of the
League. But there is a possibility of
the big powers indorsing the Japanese
point of view that none of the treaties
have been violated by Japan. which has
been acting in self-defense." in spite
of the conclusion of the Lytton report.
But the minor nations. vociferous as
they may be, will not be able to do
much when confronted with the prob
lem as to who will foot the bill in case
some action as suggested in the Lytton
report should be decided upon. For in
stance, the League commissioners sug-
gest the formation of gendarmerie
organized by neutral officers This
means the sending into Manchuria Of
a number of Swedish. British Swiss
and officers of other nations to organize
military police capable of controlling
some 30,000,000 people living in an
area as large as France and Germany
put together and Furthermore dealing
with population, part of which has
for years had as its principal occupa-
tion banditry. Such an undertaking
would be expensive and although Man
churia would be called in the last in
stance to pay the expenses of such a
gendarmerie, it would be up to the
League to provide the necessary funds
for number of years. When the
small nations will be told that it is
up to the League, whose financial con-
dition is far from being satisfactory,
to pay the initial cost, it is doubtful
whether they will be willing to press
this point.
In other words. there is a feeling that
unless Great Britain and Franace are
determined to accept the Lytton report,
even in face of determined attitude of
Japan, which seems unlikely, the
smaller nations which have been the
loudest in the demand to bring Japan
to the sense of reality. will become
more moderate in the pressing of their
demands for action.
Japan Has Clear Policy.
In this general atmosphere of un-
certainly and doubt, when the policy Of
the League of Nations and Of the
United States will have to be decided
by future developments, Japan alone
has a clear-cut policy.
The Toxic government has an
nounced in unequivocal terms that the
Far Eastern question is a matter which
interests Japan exclusively and the
Toxic government will pay no atten-
ton to whatever pressure the League
of Nations or world public opinion may
bring upon that country. Should the
League try and intervene effectively in
the Sino-Japanese dispute, Japan is