VIOLENCE CHARGE

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1932, Page 7

VIOLENCE CHARGE

JAPANESE POLICY.

China's Action Said to Be Merely Self-Preservation. AMERICAN OPINION ON WAR. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 9.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 2. The Chinese Foreign Office has advised the Chinese Minister to Washington as follows:— "Information has been received that the foreign Press is speculating to the effect that the Chinese National Government is preparing to declare war on Japan. Such reports are entirely groundless. "China has not declared -war. She is only 'exercising her right of self-preser-vation. On the other hand Japan is relentlessly pursuing a policy of violence and aggression. "So long as the Japanese forces refrain from aggressive acts against China the Chinese Government will not take any action against them." Public opinion in America last night was principally concentrated upon the enormity of the events which might result from a happening of slight relative importance at Shanghai if all the nations concerned in the difficulties there did not exercise tremendous tact .and foresight. The expectation of war has not assumed concrete form, but apprehension is increasing swiftly. Until yesterday probably no one realised how definitely everyone dreads the suggestion of war, the idea of which for the last ten years has remained a matter for academic discussion. Now the seriousness of the idea has been presented forcibly, and Americans have suddenly awakened to the fact that they want no war under any conditions. "Plain Madness" of Japanese. The New York "Daily News," a tabloid newspaper with the largest circulation in America, said to-day in a sensational full page leader: "The United States is drifting to war with Japan. What will be the effect of shoving American troops between the battling Chinese and Japanese? It will mean that the decision whether or not we will fight Japan will he taken out of the hands of the President and Congress. The State Department decision may be turned over by the first drunken Japanese lieutenant in Shanghai who sees fit to order the killing of some American. "If President Hoover and the Secretary of State, Mr. H. L. Stimson, are determined to go on with the march straight into the Shanghai powder magazine, we beg them to march step for step with England. We do not believe Great Britain or the United States can afford to undertake this insane adventure alone." The "New York Sun" says: "It is as needless to emphasise as it would bo foolish to ignore the consequences which would ensue from an assault on the Occident by the Japanese at this particular moment. The disquiet among Britons who looked with tolerance on the Japanese rigour in Manchuria has been increased by their understanding of the effect the Japanese activities inevitably will produce in the Dominions, notably in Australia." The New York "World Telegram" says: "The Shanghai crisis cannot be attributed to anything that connotes with plan or thought. It is plain madness. Japan has outlawed herself, and that act carries its own retribution. "Some day Japan will come back and beg to be trusted again. Then she will pay heavily. Patience is required more than anything else now." The "Boston Traveller" says: "This generation has suffered and bled enough. If to send the flag after the American dollar we must feed another generation of youth to Mars, we had best let the seagoing dollar disappear." The "New York Times" says: "The course Japan has pursued in the last few days would make any appeal to her Government's sense of international obligation appear grotesque. Its operations in China are inexplicable on any sound theory of national conduct. "Japan has created a situation which is growing worse from day to day. The nations in associating themselves to care for their citizens must move warily, though with assured purpose. It is a ticklish business." CALLED TO ORDER. LABOUR LEADER ON JAPAN. (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, February 2. Mr. George Lansbury, leader of the Labour party in the House, following Sir John Simon, roused many protests and demands of withdrawal when he declared that "the country and the world ought to recognise that Japan to date has engaged in a piece of international piracy." Mr. Speaker: The member ought to remember that he is referring to & friendly Power. Mr. Mac Donald, in answer to Mr. Lansbury, said that until replies had been received from the Powers, it would be inopportune to have a general debate on the trouble in the Far East, which would only do harm.