Evening star., 1932-02-15
A State of War in China.

"A SCaIe OF WdT IN SUlud.
An international consular body, acting
as committee of investigation for the
League of Nations in Shanghai. has
reported to Geneva that "a state Of
open war" exists thore between China
and Japan. Upon the receipt Of this
report arrangements were made for a
secret meeting of the Council today to
consider a Chinese request for an
emergency meeting of the full League
Assembly. China is prepared, it Is
reported from Geneva, to demand that
on the strength OF this report the
League take action under Article XVI,
involving economic and military sane
tions, the former including an inter-
national boycott against Japan, as the
aggressor nation. The Chinese spokes-
man at Geneva declares that IN this
move China is acting mot only in the
interests of China but in the interests
of all countries which may be placed
in the same unfortunate position; in
deed, I am acting in the interests Of
the Council and of the League itself.
1t is essential to affirm eni strengthen
its authority
Undoubtedly state of war exists at
Shanghai Undoubtedly. also. the
League of Nations is brought squarelv
to face an issue which my involve its
own existence There are now in the
oil Tor
anese troops, equipped with the ma
chimes of active aggressive conflict.
There are some $1,000 Chinese troops
there or near at hand. similarly but
probably not as effectively equipped.
series of engagements has been in
progress for many days as the Japanese
have tried to effect the reduction of
the Chinese forts at the mouth of the
Whangpoo River and to drive the de-
Tending Chinese forces to a distance OF
twenty miles from that point. according
to late reports There is no knowledge
of the number Of casualties. Doubtless
they have been heavy, and great dam
age has been done to property. The
Chinese native section of Shanghai
known as Chapel, has been devastated.
Verify, indeed, state of war" exists
there.
There is no likelihood of the adoption
of military measures by the League of
Nations. 1t has no forces of its own
1t can pursue a course of direct inter-
hI- mill 70 a,>l,
cooperation of the member nations, of
which the United States is not one.
Nor can It include the United States in
any economic reprisal against Japan
without the formal action of this Gov
eminent, with the assent of the Con-
gress. which would entail a consider
able delay, inasmuch as there is
strong resistance here against any par
ticipation in League measures. 1t re-
mains, therefore, to be seen what steps
the League can take that will promise
to be effective. if it should decide to
take any at all.
Protection of the American interests
at Shanghai is all that the United
States can undertake. 1t has joined
Great Britain, France and Italy in a
four-power representation to Japan.
seeking a cessation of the contest, and
no results have been gained. Rather
has the situation become more danger
Gus since this intervention. Japan has
proceeded to augment its forces in
China and has pursued an uninter
rupted campaign. Various incidents"
have occurred to bring matters to the
point at which the United States is
warranted in protesting on its own ini-
tiative against the invasion of the
rights of neutrals who are within the
area of the conflict. This Govern
ment, however. is holding strictly to
its course as a member of the four
power group.
This state of affairs cannot continue
indefinitely without the probable COM
mission by one side or the other of an
act of direct aggression upon interna-
tional rights The hope is that the
League Council or the League Assem-
bly, at Geneva can find a way of inter-
vention that will bring about depend
able truce, with the results Of an ad-
judication of the issue between the
two now warning countries.