AT BAR OF LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 91, 14 October 1931, Page 9

AT BAR OF LEAGUE

FAR EASTERN NATIONS

CHINA PRESENTS CASE

ALLEGED AGGRESSION

JAPANESE REJOINDER

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 14th October, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 13th October.

At Geneva to-day a special session of the League Council, over which M. Briand presided, heard long statements from Dr. Sze and Mr. Yoshizawa, representatives respectively of China and Japan, upon the situation in Manchuria.

Dr. Sze referred to the bombing of Chinchow by the Japanese military aeroplanes, and declared that the Chinese Government entrusted its case entirely; to the League. He argued that, if the League were unable to prevent such acts of violence, it would be useless to call the Disarmament Conference, as all nations would assume there was no alternative but to depend upon the strength of their own forces. China, however, believed that the League would be able to safeguard peace in the Tar East. Mr. Yoshizawa declared that Japan, had no territorial pretensions in Manchuria. For two years the situation there had grown increasingly troublesome, and on 18th September Japanese troops were attacked by uniformed Chinese soldiery. The Japanese Government was entirely prepared to begin direct negotiations with the Chinese Government. The chief difficulty lay in. the confused situation in Manchuria, but the Japanese Government was strongly disposed to withdraw its troops as soon as security was really assured. The Chinese Government on its part should make an effort to stop the antiJapanese campaign, after which normal relations would be quickly re-estab-lished. Mr. Yoshizawa said that he haa no information regarding the two fresh Japanese air attacks alleged by Dr. Sze, but, in reply to Lord Beading, he undertook to request information from his Government. M. Briand said that the next Council meeting would be announced later.