AGAINST JAPAN

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 10

AGAINST JAPAN

THE CASE FOR CHINA

WELLINGTON KOG'S VIEW

WEAKNESS OF POWERS

The present fighting in Jehol is war j in every sense of the world. It has been deliberately planned and is being prosecuted by Japan as a part of a programme for domination and conquest, writes Dr. Wellington Koo, China's delegate at Geneva, in the " News-Chronicle.'' ' The scene of battle is far from Europe, but its consequence and effect are bound to be world-wide. In the face of a unanimous verdict <of the Assembly of the* League of Nations that Japan has been in the wrong ever since her attack on Mukden in September, 1931, and that she ought to mend her ways, Japan, far from heeding the considered judgment of the world, launched a new offensive. In this situation, riot only the territory and rights of sovereignty of China are involved; there, lurks a greater danger to the peace of the world. The Japanese claim, that they are making war in order to promote peace in the Far East. This is a naive pretext which no really peace-loving people in the world can accept. It undermines the fundamental principles of the new international order, and is: contrary to the letter and spirit of the1 Covenant of the League and the Pact, of Paris. The truth is that Japan is bent upon the pursuit of a policy of aggression and conquest in 'order to achieve empire and domination in Asia. Her varying explanations from time to time for her conduct are merely her fixed plan of territorial aggrandisement. To recall such geographical names as the Liuchiu Islands, the Pescadores, Formosa, Korea, the Liaotung Peninsula, South Manchuria, North Manchuria, and Jehol will suffice- to show the scope and character of the real 'Japanese policy. A FALSE HOPE. A few statesmen in Europe are inclined to believe the Japanese who, in trying to allay their, suspicion, assure them that Japan's only objective in her present military operation is the occupation of Jehol. In accepting such an assurance, ■these statesmen are building upon a false hope. Is it necessary to recall the Japanese pledge as early as the end of September, 1931, to withdraw her troops, her promise not to attack Tsitsihar in November, .1931, and her assurance in, December of the same year that she would not occupy Chinchow? Her occupation of Manchuria and the present military operations in Jehol represent merely a new phase of the same policy. For, in the language of General Araki, the chief exponent of Japanese militarism, the. spirit of the Japanese Empire cannot tolerate the "oppression" by the white races in' Asia, and Japan's mission, -which should be supported by all the might of modern Japan, is to realise the Japanese conception of an "Asia for Asiatics." No sensible statesman in the world outside of Japan wants war, and the peoples: of the world, except Japan, recognise it as a duty of every responsible statesman to do everything possible to prevent war from aris-. ing. Another world conflagration, far ; from relieving the i suffering and, distress left by the past one, will only accentuate it still more and perhaps destroy civilisation itself. FOR THE SYSTEM. » China is fighting not only to protect her land and people against the Japanese invasion, but also to uphold the new international system of justice and peace. The finanimous adoption of the Eeport by the' Assembly of the League, making it clear beyond- doubt that Japan is an aggressor nation,, confirms more than ever the fact that China's cause and that of the League aro one and the same. The delay in obtaining this verdict has entailed an enormous toll of human life and an incalculable loss of property to China. As we look back now, it is perfectly clear that if the principal Powers had maintained a firm stand from the very start, not only would there have been less sacrifice in blood and treasure to China, • but -the situation would also have been far easier to handle than it is at present. " Profiting' by past experience, the, nations of the world, particularly the principal Powers, who are interested in the maintenance of peace, should lose no time in arranging effective joint measures.'to' check,the menace to world peace and to bring Japan back to reason and respect for law ami order in the ■ family of nations. A passive attitude borne out of a fear of ..complications will not improve the situation. It will, on the contrary, facilitate the spread of the menace until it becomes uncontrollable. As an old proverb says, "A stitch in time saves nine." This is ,tho time for making the stich in the system of world peace. : , OPPOSED TO FORCE. China does not expect the other member States of the League to do the fighting for her, nor does she wish to see other nations involved in' the conflict. . She loathes the idea of settling disputes between nations by force, and does not hope to gain anything from; a world conflagration. But as a victim of flagrant aggression, against which she is guaranteed as a member of the League of Nations under the Covenant,/she docs expect to be supported morally, diplomatically, and economically. She expects also that such support should bo withheld from Japan, the aggressor nation. It is to, be regretted that the British declaration of an arms embargo against Japan should be made also to apply to China. It seems to the Chinese both unfair to China and incompatible with the spirit of the Covenant and the verdict of the Bepo'rt which was unanimously toted by fortytwo nations, including Great Britain. It is the more regrettable that the existing contracts for arms and ammunition to Japan are excepted from the aforesaid declaration, and will continue to be respected. But voting for the Eeport through us authorised'- representative, the British Government has voiced its agreement in the verdict that Japan is a Covenant breaker and an aggressor nation in the present conflict in the Far East. To allow more arms to be sent to Japan, when it is known and certain thatf they will be used by her to continue the ruthless slaughter of the people of China in furtherance of her policy of aggression, is, to say the least, strikingly inconsistent. , TH3 LEAGUE. The fear of complications arising from dispatching arms to China in the face of a powerful Japanese navy is understandable. But such difficulties may be avoided without doing great injury to the cause of justice and fair treatment.' For example, such arms destined for China need not necessarily bo transported in ships. The policy and attitude of the member State's of the League, especially the principal Powers, towards the SinoJapanese dispute from now on will halve

a great significance. The situation, which has arisen from the Japanese aggression which, is still continuing, is an object lesson to the world. China has too much, and too long, neglected her national defences in the face of a militaristic Japan, and has placed perhaps too much faith in the existing system of collective responsibility for the maintenance of world peace. It is perhaps yet too early to say that this lesson is definitive. It depends upon the promptness with which, and the extent to which, the other members of the League and the signatories of the Paris Pact, will come to the aid and support of China, the victim of the Japanese aggression. If China, after having obtained a verdict ,from the highest tribunal in the world in her favour, should be left to fight against the continued invasion and. aggression unaided by'^all the support to which she is entitled under the Covenant, then it is certain that her plight will be taken, as a warning against disarmament. . For if no reliance can be placed upon the present system of collective maintenance of peace, sanctified by solemn treaties, the question will be asked, what guarantee will tliere be that new treaties to be made will be respected in future? The sense of reasonable security, which alone will ensure the success of the Disarmament Conference, will then disappear altogether. Then those nations which are already armed to the teeth will refuse more persistently to disarm; .while those who are already disarmed or under-armed will insist upon re-arming or increasing their armaments.