PRIVATE TALKS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 121, 18 November 1931, Page 9

PRIVATE TALKS

BEFORE PUBLIC SPEAKING

BRIAND'S WAY TO GAIN TIME

PARIS, 16th November. The chief features of the League Council's momentous session held to discuss the Manchurian crisis were that it was one of> the shortest on. record, lasting 20 minutes—and that the SinoJapanese delegates avoided an open debate which might have precipitated tho issue, M. Briand adroitly substituting private conversations. M. Briand, speaking with difficulty becaAiso of a racking cough, recalled that although Japan had not withdrawn her troops in accordance with the Council's resolution on 30th September, requiring withdrawal by to-day, lie had received an assurance that' Japan undertook to respect her engagements. Ho added, referring to Japan's five points, that four of them were covered by tho Council's resolutions, while there ■ was a possibility of an under* standing concerning the fifth in Mr. Sze's letter indicating his readiness to submit the treaties to arbitration. Observing, however, that Japan refused to admit the possibility of the invalidity of the treaties, M. Briand then suggested that private conversations were the best procedure, whereupon the Council adjourned. Mr. Sze, speaking at the private session, urged that as many public meetings as possible should be held to en* able the Chinese to be fully informed. General Dawes was not present, but may attend later in the week.