Evening star., 1934-04-22
Japan's manifesto to the world re-
garding peace" in the Far East.

Japan's manifesto to the world re-
garding peace" in the Far East.
In defiance Of Tokio's objections"
to foreign aid in the military and
economic reconstruction of China,
League officials plan during next
months meeting of the Council, to
ask extraordinary measures for the
assistance of the Marking govern
ment. Geneva inclines to the belief
that Japan's recent extraordinary
proclamation of exclusive dominion
over Oriental destinies was called
forth by fears that the League might
succeed in bringing about the re-
habilitation of China. When the
assembly two years ago adopted a
resolution condemning Japan's seiz-
ure of Manchuria there was a Simul-
taneous proposal that the Western
world, through League agencies,
should provide funds and experts re-
quired to put united China on its
feet. 1t is such projects that Japan
now construes as factors contributory
to disturbance of Far Eastern peace,
Tokio's idea palpably being that the
best guarantee of peace is a per-
manently helpless China.
The League has during the past
year had a special representative in
China, surveying the likeliest posi-
bilities of large-scale international
aid for that unhappy land, both in
the form of loans and otherwise. This
agent is returning to Geneva to re-
port to the May Council meeting
Action on his recommendations may
prove the occasion for formulation of
some sort of international attitude
toward Japan's pretenSions to hegem-
ony over China.
1t can hardly be contended that
the League of Nations recurring ac-
tivities with reference to Japan have
been of nature designed to make
much of an impression at Toxic. On
the occasion of the Shanghai affair in
1882 and subsequent developments in
Manchukuo the League conferred,
frowned and highly resolved and even
dispatched a commission to China,
but nothing happened. The japanese
delegation bolted headlong from
Geneva and since then has virtually
ignored the international organiza-
tons existence. Yet if world opinion
toward Tokio's newest procedure is
crystallized at the Leagues forth
coming session and is couched in
sufficiently impressive terms, it is
within the realm of possibilities that
the effect upon Japan will not be al
together negligible. 1t will at least
convince her afresh of the worlds
alarm and displeasure over her cyni-
cal disregard of international cove
nantS.
The japanese have two important
objectives at the moment They are
burningly anxious to expand their
export trade in all directions. They
yearn for revision of the existing
naval ratio as between themselves,
Great Britain and the United States.
If it can be brought home to them,
through the agency of the League or
otherwise. that in brusquely warning
other nations to keep hands off China,
in order that it may be their exclusive
area of exploitation, they are pro-
ceeding in the wrong way toward
realization of their major aspirations,
the japanese may, before it is too late,
retire from position, the effrontory
Of which has been a profound shock
to their friends everywhere.
Hitherto. Japan has successfully
banked on the Vests preoccupation
with its own concerns. She may dis
cover that it is unwise to place per-
manent reliance on the outside worlds
Indifference to plans for the pro-
gressive obliteration of China and her
independence.