MENAGE OF WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 25, 30 January 1932, Page 14

MENAGE OF WAR

CHINA AND JAPAN

TENSE ATMOSPHEEE

CTnitcd Press Association—By Electric Tele'

graph Copyright.

(Eeceived 30th January, 2.30 p.m.)

GENEVA, 29th January.

There is a tense atmosphere, members of the Council of the League of Nations . realising that the League is facing one of the most difficult crises in ita history. This was increased by Mr. Sato's declaration that; .possibly world peace might be compromised by the events' at Shanghai. A crowded Council listened in deep silence to Mr. Yen and Mr. Sato stating their respective cases. '* Mr. Yen declared that Japan's armed action diectly -violated the pact, necessitating China's invocation of the articles. Mr. Yen read a telegram denouncing the Japanese aggression, for which, he added, Japan must bear the full responsibility. ■

Mi. Sato, in expressing regret that developments had-not- permitted liquidation of the Sino-Japanese dispute, declared that Japan was not wholly at fault. Mr. Yen's telegram had asserted that Japanese sailors had attacked without provocation, but on the other hand his. own telegrams, which were equallyofficial, showed how the anti-Japanese menace had repeatedly grown, resulting in the landing of marines to protect the; Japanese district on the' advice of the commander of the foreign' naval forces.r Chinese regulars had attacked the marines, andalso the Japanese'headquarters, which were forced'to act in selfTdefence. Mr.-Sato added that the Chinese invocation, of" the' articles' had made worse ah already: delicate and dangerous situation, and had increased the difficulties of settlement. '.