Evening star., 1937-10-05
CHINA DEMANDS
ACTION Of LEAGUE
Insist Nine Power Treaty
Signatories Be More Than
"lnvited" to Conference.


By the Associated Press.
GENEVA, October 5.-The Drafting
Committee of the League Advisory
Group on the Sino-Japanese conflict
agreed today that signatories Of the
nine-power treaty, including the
United States, should be invited" to
meet at the earliest possible moment
to examine the Far Eastern situation
It was understood also that conces-
sions were made to a Chinese demand
that the nine-power conference in
vitation should not be the only action
taken. The Chinese representatives
insisted the League also should recog-
nize its obligation to act.
A draft of the proposals is to be
submitted later to the subcommittee
OF 13, and if approved there to be
then presented to the full Advisory
Committee. which in turn would re-
port to the League Assembly.
The effort to call together the nine
powers earlier had been snagged by
determined Chinese and Russian op-
position to nine-power conference
on the conflict
Oppose British Proposal.
The Chinese delegation, solidly sup
ported by their Russian allies, was
learned to have opposed the British
project for convocation of the sigma
tories of the Washington treaty guar
anteeing China's territorial integrity,
unless the League of Nations contin-
ues its study of charges accusing
Japan as an aggressor nation
The position taken by China and
Russia was based on the hope of ulti-
mate League measures to aid China
as victim of aggression. The par
ticular articles invoked by China in
her charge against Japan were 10 and
II of the League Covenant, which
bind the League to take measures to
preserve the territorial integrity of
members against aggression.
Until the opposition developed
forcing postponement of its meeting
today, the Advisory Subcommittee on
Sino japanese Affairs, with the
United States sitting in consultation,
was believed to have accepted the
British proposal and agreed to rec
or1mend convocation of the nine pow
ers at a late meeting last night.
dispatches from Washington for
some time have indicated the United
States was engaged in secret studies
with other powers to see If the nine
power pact could not be used to re-
store peace in China.
(The United States and Great
Britain we're known to have pre-
viously begun exchanging informa-
ton on their views and diplomatic
maneuvers in the Far Eastern crisis,
q move which might have strength
ened the British decision to invoke
the terms of the pact)
Action Unjustified.
The factual investigation by the
great powers at Geneva was said to
have resulted in an impression that
Japan's military action in China was
"unjustified" by the incidents leading
up to it.
The three main points Of the sub
committees conclusions were listed as
an indictment of Japan for:
l. Invasion" Of China by Japanese
troops.
2. Bombardment of the Chinese civil
population contrary to the rules of
warfare.
3. Impeding" normal Chinese COM
merce by naval blockade of the
China coast.
Great Britain's influence was
thought to be responsible for the sud-
den stlf1ening of the League attitude
against Japan in the Far Eastern con-
hict. One delegate indicated mounting
world opinion would induce the League
to adopt stringent measures to curb
Japan for what the committee decided
was an invasion of China.
The nine-power pact, signed in
washington in 1922, binds the sigma
tories to meet at the call of anv one
OF them that believes a situation has
arisen which involves the applica-
tlons" of the treaty.