Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1932. THE MANCHURIAN PROBLEM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 52, 10 December 1932, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1932. THE MANCHURIAN PROBLEM.

The fact that the League of Nations Assembly is not to take a vote on the motion of censure on Japan illustrates the difficulty that is presented by the situation in the Far East. That the prestige of that organisation is at stake, and that as it handles the difference between China and Japan so will its future influence and power for good be determined, is undeniable, but that Japan is not willing to accept a decision unfavourable to herself 's equally certain. Critics of the League assert that solution of the problem depends upon courageous handling by the League, but the matter is not so easy of adjustment as they endeavour to make out. Ever since the RussoJapanese war China's hold over the northern province has been tenuous. The Manchu overlord at Mukden has given but grudging allegiance to the Government at Pekin, Nanking or wherever the itinerant authorities have temporarily located themselves, and he has held aloof from the internecine struggles that have torn the nation. Recently, apparently through Japanese influence, a new and puppet ruler has been installed in Mukden, and a new State has been set up, recognised so far only by Japan. No one regards this Government, the titular head of which is the former Emperor of China, who was deposed in 1911, as anything but a puppet administration controlled by Japan. Except by China, no protest has been made by any of the great Powers interested. From the point of view of material gain, it is readily understandable why Japan intends to go steadily ahead with her programme, for the possession of Manchuria, by proxy or otherwise, is vital to her security as a great power. Manchuria is an extremely rich reservoir from which she can draw supplies of coal, iron, oil from immense shale deposits, and foodstuffs, all of which are either lacking or limited in quantity in her own country. On the international side it must be admitted that upon China rests much of the blame as a cause of Japan's disregard last year of the Nine Power Treaty by which the integrity of China was safeguarded. From the time of the signature of the treaty anarchy and disorder increased, and Chinese officials harried the Japanese traders and settlers outside the South Manchurian railway zone to such an extent that their position became intolerable, and provided a strong excuse for military intervention by Japan. China's incapacity to protect the persons and rights of foreigners within her borders has, at least in some degree; justified those ' powers that have nationals and interests to preserve in maintaining within the country a force sufficient for their protection. Thus the domestic condition of China intensifies the difficulty confronting those who desire to preserve her territorial integrity.