THE SITUATION IN MANCHURIA.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20498, 17 March 1932, Page 11

THE SITUATION IN MANCHURIA.

WORK OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS. At the conclusion of the business of the annual meeting of the Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand League of Nations . Union last night, a discussion was held on the Manchurian question, especially in its relation to the League of Nations.^ Mr A. C. Brassington, retiring president, in leading the discussion, pointed out that at the present time three factors made the study of international affairs especially interesting, namely, the worldwide economic depression, the disarmament and the Manchurian question." It was a particularly unfortunate timo for trouble in the East to occur, as it might have, a prejudicial effect on the Western nations as regards their attitude towards disarmament. To-day, complaints were made, in varying degree, about the efficacy of the League of Nations, but the root of this hostile attitude was a lack of knowledge of the facts. Eew people appreciated the work done by the League in its many branches, , while fewer still understood how much the League had accompjished in the East. For this, a thorough knowledge of the histories of Japan and China, and the position of Eussia, was essential. It had to be remembered that it was t'no first time the League, which was essentially a product of Western civilisation, had intervened in the affairs of Asia, that war, in the real sense of a declared armed contest between States, had been prevented, and that the League was I dependent for its success in such a crisis j upon the opinion of the very public which tended to criticise it.

Education of Public Opinion. One of the most important functions of the League and of the League of Nations Unions- everywhere was the educating of public opinion to sympathy with its objects for the benefit of the world's international relations. Already the League had offered to the East a civilised method of settling the dispute, it had prevented heavy conflict of armed forces, and it had drawn public attention to the need for international mediation. It was not generally realised how complex the position between China, Japan, and the other nations was, and how little reliable information was taken as the basis of criticism. An important factor was the frdfedom of the Japanese military authorities from effective civil control. Considering the whole position, stated Mr Brassington, he saw nothing in recent Eastern events and their treatment by the League to justfy any loss of faith in the League. Mr R. M. Laing, Mr C. R. N. Mackie, and other members also contributed to the discussion.