The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY. OCTOBER 6, 1932. THE LEAGUE RAISES A BIG ISSUE.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11760, 6 October 1932, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY. OCTOBER 6, 1932. THE LEAGUE RAISES A BIG ISSUE.

The long-awaited report, by the Lyttoo Commission on the Manchuv-* iau qiiediuu is now the subject- of world-wide discussion. it has, rightly. beeu pointed out in the Home press that the main weakness in connection with the League of Nations'’ intervention is that the report is belated, ilt the conclusions reached could have been disseminated before (Japan officially recognised the non State of Mancliukuo it might lwtve made all the difference. The Commission levels a grave accusation against Japan. Jin effect, it holds that the new State came into being although its separation from China was overwhelmingly opposed by the Chinese population. .At the dale ol its establishment, it requires to be borne in mind, Japan was virtually in control. of 'Manchuria. The inference is, of course,* that a small minority of the population of Manchuria was encouraged by Japan during her military occupation of tlio territory to hive off from the Chinese republic. Japan’s problem now is to convince the world that she did not instigate the establishment of the new State. Her difficulties are, of course,' multiplied by the fact that she is tjie only nation that has, so Jar, recognised the independence of Mancliukuo. It is plain that Japan not only approves of Manchuria’s separation from China hut will not be a party to inducing the State to revert to Chinese control, if it can be held, tha-fc it lias legally freed itself from China’s sovereign rights. The very worst feature of Japan’s attitude was, unquestionably, lmr decision to recognise tlie government of Mancliukuo prior to tliq bringing down ol the Lyttoo ieport. Very unfortunate it was that the work of the Commission occupied such a lengthy., period, but the graveness'of. the; issue demanded that the whole problem should be carefully and very fully studied on the spot. When tho Commission’s report is boiled down it seems, to amount to this: that the only hope of fair treatment that is held, out to China is that jJapan, will* agree that it will not bo worth her while financially or in any other way to assist the. Muncliukuo government to maintain a separation) st policy.. It dqes nob appear likely that Japan will be impressed in the' slightest • degree with ‘ i . i " ■ -

the League’s contention that the present Manchurian ypgmrejs'.incompatible with tlio fundamental . principles of; existing international' obligations, iff that hp.not so, Japan would, nob have recognised the Maiichulkuo gov-' eminent with such feverish haste. Scexningly, if the; Lytton Commission be right, and assuming that the League of Nations had never come into existence, the Manchurian question would resolve itself in the course of lime by the withdrawal' of Japan on account' of financial exigencies and the consequent revival of Chinese control. JSut, as far as can be made out, Japan is prepared to take the risk of tlio Manchukuo government fai'liiig; What is significant is that British press opinion centres, round China’s incapacity to govern aud Japan’s need to- preserve her rights in Manchuria. It is not hold that Japan’s actions are legally justified, but there is a tendency to ofier excuses on her behalf. It now remains to he seen whether the League can prove itself a, real vital force in the settlement of a major international difficulty. In plain words, the Commission has told Japan she is in the wrong, but it has not as clearly , laid it down that China is not blameless lor what has transpired. . .