Evening star., 1937-09-24
After the Horse Is Stolen.

1t was with high hope in the Winter
OF 1922 that the nine powers with
interests in the Pacific-Great Britain.
France, Italy, Japan, China, the United
States. Belgium, the Netherlands and
Portugal-conferred in Washington on
armaments and Far Eastern questions.
Positive results ensued. Naval arma-
ments were reduced and limited for the
first time. A four-power accord among
Britain, the United States, Japan and
France abolished the Anglo-Japanese
alliance and provided for friendly CO.
operation in the event of threats to the
security of existing Asiatic possessions.
Japan and China agreed upon the re-
cession of Shantung to Chinese SOW
ereignty. Finally a nine-power omnibus
treaty was negotiated, which, as its
paramount feature, guaranteed the
maintenance of the territorial integrity
and political independence of China.
Japan was party to that solemn agree
ment.
Within ten years of its ratification
the japanese had severed the province
OF Manchuria from the loins of the
Chinese republic. Creation of puppet
Manchukuo was followed by Japans
absorption of other territory on both
sides of the Great Wall, until today, as
the result of the Summers tragic events
In the Peiping- -Tientsin area, virtually
all of North China has come under the
islanders domination. The undeclared
war which has reached the zenith of
Intensity around Shanghai and Nanking
manifests Tokios purpose-no longer,
indeed, disguised-to subjugate China
by ruthless force, no matter how long
or costly the process may be.
1t is into such a situation that the
signatories OF the nine-power pact have
now tardily stepped. For the moment
their "action" is confined to it's con
sultative" feature, whereby they under
take merely to exchange views" Their
belated zeal savors strongly of locking
the stable door after the theft. The
avowed purpose is to explore the possi-
bilities" of stopping sino-Japanese hos
tilities. The United States is partici-
pating In these communications. but
there is no indication as yet that any,
thing either has taken place or is pro-
jected, except talk. Talk unfortunately
is about all the pact provides for. Like
the Kellogg treaty, "outlawing war;
what travesty current events make of
that ideal-the nine-pow accord lacks
teeth.
Having successfully defied the fifty
odd nations that comprise the League,
when they sought to prevent the con-
quest of Manchuria, one may well ques-
ton the probability of Japans paying
much attention to a protest from merely
eight nations today. One of them hap
pens to be Italy, now in semi alliance
with Toxic. Portugal, the Netherlands
and Belgium can, of course, be elimi-
mated from consideration. With China
Japan is at war. That leaves Britain,
France and this country to vindicate
the majesty of the Washington pact.
If the British we're deaf to Secretary
stimsons proposal of collective action
against Japan in 1882, they are doubly
unlikely, under 1887 European condi-
tions, to move now. France is shackled
by the same handicaps. That the United
States would move single-handedly or
lead in organizing international meas
ures to curb Japan is inconceivable.
1t will take sterner stuff than "ex-
ploratory conversations" between the
chancellories of Europe and America to
stay the hand of the militant empire
now engaged in fulfilling its Asiatic
destiny" by fire and sword.