The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1929, CHINA AND RUSSIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1929, CHINA AND RUSSIA.

W-hiiJe: it -may be'preniivture to say that ; a trute Juts been ■declared between CliimV and ■ Russia there seems to be some ground for the anticipation'that a settlement of the ‘dispute, which originated 'the skirmishing on the Manchurian border, is in Sight. If this anticipation should be realised, the “Otiigo Times” says,'it will he a source of great relief to the Powers which nave been exercised as to the means that could be employed to prevent the frontier activities from developing xnio a serious conflict. The matter was raised in the House or Commons last week, when the Foreign Secretary, Mr Arthur Henderson, did not conceal the anxiety which the Sino-ilussian activities have caused the signatories of me Kellogg Pact. The pact, as Mr Henderson stated, provides no machinery for dealing with any case u, infraction by powers that have accepted its pnincfiple, and although both China and Russia are signatories u was becoming very doubtful whether their adherence to the treaty would prevent a breach of their undertaking more flagrant tnan had yet occurred Jf the hostilities have been, or are being, stopped, the discussion, relative to the good faith of China and Russia assumes merely an academic interest. It served, however, to emphasise the extent to which the pact can fail in its purpose of preventing war. '1 he pact may be said to lose its potency the moment shots have been tired, and the only hope of averting a spread of a disturbance lies in the intervention of the League of Nations. Russia appears to have been the aggressor in all the engagements on the Manchurian frontier, but the Chinese authorities certainly precipitated the acts of hostility when they seized the Chinese Eastern Railway and imprisoned or deported Russian employees. At the outset of the trouble the United States Secretary of State, Mr H. L. vStiinson, was preparing for the ceremony at which the Kellogg Pact was ra.Lilijed in Washington., After consulting the other signatories f.e sent reminders to China and Russia that they had already pledged then adherence to the declaration outlawing war, and he received replies from tne Covernments oT both countries conveying the assurance that they would recognise the terms of the pact. Fighting did not cease, however, and four months after Mr Stimson remonstrated with them the Chinese and Russians were still at loggerheads, with a declaration of war on a large scale apparently far from remote. It is not liv demonstrations of

the kind in which, they have engaged

that confidence in- the normanence of flic Kellogg Treaty will he established. L nless Powers arc prepared to honour pledges given under the part more convincingly than China and

-.ussia have done there will he a danger that the pact will conic to be regarded as an elaborate piece of makebelieve. It is well, therefore, that the United Ctatcs and British Governmeius are acting in consort in tins matter. This association of two great Powers gives oinphas.s to the demands made to observe the Kellogg Pact and hopes that the demands will have some respect. The incident will be some indication of the virtue and value of the Kellogg Treaty, and it will bo interesting to observe the final outcome of the present negotiations.