The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-01-12
(Official City, State and County
Newspsper)
Foreign Representatives
SMALL, SPENCER, LEVlNGS
& BREWER
(Incorporated)
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
The Urge to Action

EDAV6A AAA0A4VAA0 VI AAA<sSVAOAA AASNA AAA
decision. it was something Of a sur
prise when the U. S.. government
finally warned Japan that 1t would
expect the nine-power pact to be re-
spected in Manchuria.
That the pact had been violated
seems as unquestioned as that the
first big test Of the League Of Ma
lions and Of the Kellogg BRAND pact
to outlaw war resulted in failure for
those fine instruments for the pre-
servation Of peace and the promotion
Of justice. A good many things fall
by the wayside when military power
and . lust for national aggrandize-
sneut are In the saddle, so perhaps
We should blame the frailty Of hu-
man nature more than any defects
Of the treaties and international set
ups. Whatever else may be said c!
them, they warm the peacc.lovillg
heart. they appeal to our sense Of
righteousness. and they look good OF,
paper. H..
Since the Japanese aggression be-
gan in September, the American peo-
Pile have held the idea that there was
ample cause to put into effect what
eyer treaties were available to meet
the situation. Whatever other names
may have been given it, we have w.t.
messed war in the Far East. We
have seen one nation invaded and its
rights trampled beneath the feet of
another nation.
The League Of Nations and the in
terested. powers fused and stewed
like hen which has Matched a duck,
but they did nothing definite. r.
stead of taking a definite stand,
based on their rights, the principles
Of justice and the facts of the situa-
ton, they temporized and procras-
tined. The American government: has
followed suit.
Coming as it did at the end Of
three months Of such tactics, Alneri-
cas- declaration Of adherence 70 its
rights was a reversal Of form for the
administration.
What caused 1t Is by no means c,r-
tain, but II one were to guess nc
should not ignore the resolution. Of.
tered early in the present congress
session by Senator Johnson Of Cali
fornia. In which the senate demanded
all the data available as to the az
lions and negotiations Of the Ameri-
can government in the Far Eastern
imbroglio. Nothing much has been
heard Of 1t since, but it Is on file and
there was every reason to believe that
it would be brought to the front
pointedly before the present session
Of congress ends next spring.
Johnson Is no friend Of the admin
istration or Of the president and he
is imbued with the enthusiastic COM
pick which has existed on the Pa
cific coast for years. California has
never quite forgotten that, in the
event Of war with an Asiatic power,
its coast, its people and its industries
would be endangered. So Senator
johnson was speaking for California
In no uncertain terms when he de-
lnanded to know what had been done
to adequately represent United States
interests.
Another factor is that American
capital has considerable interest in
Manchuria. United States trade with
that part Of the Chinese republic
runs into millions yearly. japanese
occupation and control will impair
those investments and diminish tina;
trade. Nipponese action has demon
strated that clearly already.
We have, then, an element Of fear
In the tardy action Of the state de-
lpartment. The political situation i
bad enough Without prejudicing the
electoral vote Of California any more
than Is necessary. In addition. We
haye the concern for the business Of
Amer1ca which has been one Of the
keynctes Of this administration.
When frank B. Kellogg was sec
r6taty q stats In the Coolidge I'D
1liniGtxation he VAS given the sobrl-
ut u '.lgeryous Nellie" By some q
III enemies, but 1t least be repre-.
$1,000 The thought Of : considerable
slemsnt = the American people dur.
~ ~ 4ctivjties n Office.
" oov1r anA atimson haven't donl
ih With ths Japanese situation
~ eain them classification from III