MANCHURIAN DISPUTE

Evening Star, Issue 20995, 8 January 1932, Page 9

MANCHURIAN DISPUTE

THE LEAGUE COMMISSION PREPARATIONS BEFORE INQUIRY (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyright. RUGBY, January 6. The names of the five members of tlie Manchurian Commission will bo published at Geneva on Friday. Tho commission wall meet at Genova before leaving Europe to draw up a programme of work and to establish satisfactory and rapid lines of communication with tho Council of the League. Lord Lytton has accepted tho appointment as the British representative on the commission. The question of the chairmanship of the commission will rest with tho Council.

ATTITUDE OF THE POWERS A NEW MOVE. NEW YORK, January G. The Washington correspondent of the New York ‘Times’ says: “World diplomatic pressure on Japan in the Manchurian crisis now promises to take the form of separate appeals by Powers emphasising their treaty rights in China. This is in contradistinction to the previous phase in which the Governments joined in diplomatic measures emphasising tho desirability of peace in the Far East, but without particular stress on individual rights. In considering this new move the interested foreign offices are consulting each other frequently. It is intimated in well-in-formed quarters that the logical climax might well be a joint appeal by tho parties to the Nine-power Treaty of 1922 under the provisions safeguarding the territorial administrative integrity of China.”

DEFEATED CHINESE SOLDIERS FIENDISH ATROCITIES. TOKIO, January 6. Besides looting and burning by bandits, it is reported that defeated soldiers are committing fiendish atrocities on women and children in Manchuria. Militarists point out that reinforcements are necessary for an extensive campaign to clear the country.

DEFINITE ACTION BY POWERS “SWEEPING AND UNMISTAKABLE.” WASHINGTON, January 7. (Received January 8, at 9 a.m.) Definite action in tho Manchurian situation has been decided upon by the interested Powers after a conference between the Secretary of State (Mr H. L. Stimson) and the British, French, and Italian Ambassadors. In view of a possible declaration on the subject, the State Department officials declined to comment on tho nature of the action, except to say that it was sweeping and unmistakable.

AMERICA ACTS. WASHINGTON, January 7. (Received January 8, at 11 a.m.) The United States invoked the NinePower Treaty to-day in connection with the Manchurian trouble. The treaty deals with the preservation of China’s territorial and administrative integrity. Action was taken by the Secretary of State (Mr Stimson) after consulting with the other Powers which are a party to the treaty. Further action of a sweeping character, of which the Nine-Power Treaty is the axis, has been. taken, but the details are not disclosed. Just when and how notification went to the Far East was not immediately stated. Mr Stimson has been in consultation over the question with tho representatives of Britain and Franco. The Administration’s concern over tho difficulties of China and Japan have become increasingly evident lately. Tho original parties to the NinePower Pact aro tho United States, Belgium, the British Empire, China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Portugal.

AMERICA'S DEEP CONCERN

SPEECH BY MR HOOVER

WASHINGTON, January 7; (Received January 8, at 1 p.rn.)

Previous to the treaty invocation anouneement President Hoover personally expressed anew to-day the United States Government’s deep concern over the Ear Eastern situation when replying to a formal address of welcome to Mr W. W. Yen, the newlyappointed Chinese Minister, in presenting his credentials. The President said : “ The United States is mindful of its engagements under the treaties, and proposes to continue to follow with close and soheitious attention the developments to the eastward. I request you to convey to your Government and to the people of China the assurance that the American Government and the people will continue to observe with deep sympathetic interest the present struggle of the Chinese nation for realisation of those principles which form the foundation of a democratic .State.’’ AMERICAN NOTE TO JAPAN WASHINGTON, January 7. (Received January 8, at 1.45 p.m.) In a new expression of concern over Japan’s occupation of Manchuria the United States Government to-day notified Tokio that the United States will

adhere to its rights under the various applicable international agreements, including the Nine-Power Pact and the Kellog Anti-war Treaty. The Note sent will be made public shortly, reaffirming in direct terms, the United States interest in recent events in the Ear East. Officials would not discuss or forecast what action might ho taken to protect United States interests.