The Washington times., 1935-10-09
ACTION WEAK
IN JAPANESE
CRISIS OF 81
MussoIini Censured,
And Sanctions Voted
Quickly, DecisiVeIy
BY International News Service

ODoC1 NS1S VI WOAIO o4AoA0 NSN%N~J
were contrasting this decisive &C.
tion with the Leagues ineffective
intervention in the Sino-Japanese
war of 1888.
The Leagues action in the
Italo-Ehiopian conflict cam e
within a week of the actual out
break of hoStilitieS. 1t calls for
drastic financial boycotts and pos
Sible military action.
In the Japanese war on China,
fighting had been in progress Tor
a year and three months and the
huge independent State of Man
chukuo, dominated by Japan, had
been carved out of Manchurla
and Jehol, before the League AS
sembly took decisive action OF
any kind.
Japan Censured
This action consisted OF a re-
port of censure and nonrecogni'
ton of Manchukuo - nothing
more.
Observers also see marked dill
ference in the attitude of Great
Britain in the two conflicts. In
the first, England objected to
sanctions and was loath to take
the initiative in any League moves.
In the current war. England has
been the dominating spirit OF the
League.
Following are brief synopSes Of
the Leagues activities in both con-
flicts:
The League of Nations in the
SinO-JapaneSe conflict:
Japan launched an invasion OF
Manuchuria in September, 1881,
attacking and capturing Mukden.
The invasion was never formally
declared a war, though the fight
ing lasted nearly two years, cost
thousands of lives and millions OF
dollars and resulted in setting up
the ''puppet state" of Manchukuo,
dominated by Japan.
China appealed for League In
tervention two days after the
fighting started. The League in
quiry commission, headed by the
Earl of Lytton, did not arrive in
Asia until six months later.
League Report Delayed
Shanghai and scores Of import
ant cities had fallen and Man
chukuo had been created and
recognized by Japan before the
Lytton report was issued on Oc-
tober 2, 1882. The report found
Japan at fault, with treaties vio-
lated. It urged autonomy of Man
churia under Chinese sovereignty.
It condemned the establishment
Of Manchukuo. 1t proposed direct
negotiations between China and
Japan and listed 10 principles of
peaceful settlement.
Japan flatly rejected the re-
port. Asserting she had acted in
self-defense and admitting no
wrong. she declared her policy
with regard to Manchukuo was ir-
revocable.
The question was then put up
to the League: What to do now?
Powers Cautious
It was an embarrassing ques-
ton. At the League Assembly
meeting in December, the smaller
powers demanded action. The
great powers-England, France
Germany, Italy-moved cautiously.
In the end they adopted the re-
port and on February 19 issued a
worldwide wireless report lasting
10 hours in which Japan was Sc
verely censured. 1t decided upon
a policy of non-recognition of
Manchukuo and non-cooperation
with it in practice.
That was the extent of the
Leagues action. England ordered
an arms embargo with respect to
both Japan and China-bitter
fighting was in progress during
all this time.
Japan quietly withdrew from
the League week later, the resig-
nation becoming effective this
year.
Japan apparently had gained
all her objectives. BY May a truce
was declared. The League stood
completely discredited in the eyes
of many.
The League of Nations in the
Italo-Ethiopian war:
When a border fight broke
out between Italian colonials
and Ethiopians near Wal Wal
on the Italian Somaliland- -Ethi-
opian line early last December,
resulting in the death of 80 Ital-
ians and about 10 Ethiopians,
the League of Nations knew it
faced its biggest crisis.
There had been ill feeling be-
tween Italy and Ethiopia since
their struggle in 1896. War ap-
peared certain. MuSsolini began
shipping troops to Africa imme-
diately.
But there was no delay on the
Leagues part in this emergency.
Italy was asked to delay action in
the hope of possible conciliation.
Italy consented, but kept moving
troops to the potential front. And
as they moved. England, the spark
plug of the League in this case,
moved battleships to the Mediter-
Tanean.
Peace Efforts Fail
The futile efforts of the League
to avert war are too we'll known
to bear repeating. Italy would be
satisfied by nothing but a COM
plete mandate over Ethiopia. Ef-