NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 21 September 1938, Page 11

NOT ACCEPTABLE.

LEAGUE INVITATION.

Japanese Cabinet's Certain

Rejection.

DELEGATES' PROPOSALS. United Tress Association.—Copyright. I (Received 10.30 a.m.) GENEVA, September 20. A message from Tokyo states that the Cabinet is certain to reject the League's invitation to accept the League's jurisdiction in the SinoJapanese dispute under the application of Article XVII. of the Covenant. Dr. Wellington Koo, Chinese delegate, detailed the following proposals to the Armaments Committee:—"Recommendation to member and non-member States to refrain from supplying military and naval aeroplanes with oil; that a commission of neutral observers collect facts in China in connection with the use of poison gas and the bombing of populous cities; that civilians watefe the situation on the war fronts and report to the League; that the League convene a general conference of member and non-member states with a view to preparing an air warfare convention." A message from Hankow states that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek's headquarters were jubilant at the decision of the League Council, as it is expected to strengthen the morale of China. The Chinese allege that the frequency of Japanese gas attacks has increased with the bitterness of the fighting in all sectors. The Japanese admit that the Chinee* fierce counter-attack on the Hwang-mei and Kwangt-si sectors slowed up progress. Captain Euan Wallace, British delegate, recommended to the Assembly the adoption of a resolution outlawing international bombing of civilian populations and ensuring that aerial targets must be legitimate objectives capable of identification, besides ensuring that adjacent civilian populations are not bombed through carelessness.

Article XVIII. states that in the event of a -iiepute between a member of the League and a State not a member of the League, the former ehall be invited to accept the obligations of membership and an inquiry into the dispute be held, after which the Council -.ehall recommend each as is thought beet. Should the State no invited refuse to accept the obligations of membership Article XVI., which provides for the severance of all trade or financial relations and the application of eanctione, ehall be enforced.