WORLD PEACE AND THE EAST.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3449, 24 November 1932, Page 4

WORLD PEACE AND THE EAST.

The attitude taken by Japan over the Manchukuo Republic and her dispute with China is confirming the opinion of many people that the completion of plans to ensure permanent world peace is yet a long way off. Japan insists that the League of Nations and the world Powers should recognise the Manchukuo Republic, while the Lytton report recommends that China's Sovereignty in Manchuria should be maintained, the Province to have a separate administration; it is also recommended that Japan, with so many interests, should have a hand in the administration of the Province and Japanese to have the right to purchase land and settle there. Finally, the report recommends that Japanese troops should be withdrawn from the so-called Manchukuo Republic. The Lytton Commission was set up at the instigation of the League of Nations, thus complying with the League covenant that every effort should be made to settle international disputes by arbitration. The Commission was represented by the principal world Powers, and the report was meant to be the basis of negotiations for a settlement of the Sino-Japanese dispute. Japan has now refused to accept the finding of the Commission, and this means the undermining of the whole of the League's structure. Japan has certainly cause for grievance againsv China, She has an enormous amount of capital invested in China and Manchuria, and with the activities of the Chinese bandits and the boycott of Japanese goods and merchants, these interests have been seriously jeopardised. At the same time Japan's fiat repudiation of her obligations under the League covenant is the most serious blow yet received in the effort to promote a world understanding. Not only does Japan refuse to consider the Lytton report, but challenges the right of the League Council and Assembly to discuss her actions in China. Nor can the Chinese be absolved from blame over the position that has arisen. In some respects she has played into the hands of Japan in that country's ambition to extend hei' sphere of influence in the Far East. It has to be admitted that China is lacking a government —that this vast, country, with its enormous population, is at the mercy of political and military factions, but the ill-advised boycott of Japan and everything Japanese was an opening that suited the military sections of Japan, whose desire it is to extend their country's influence in China. Press opinions in Great Britain show a wide difference of opinion regarding Japan's policy in China and Japan. American opinion is largely in favour of Japan. The fact remains that in the greatest test it has ever been called upon to face, the League of Nations has failed, not because of apathy or lack of effort, but on account of one of the most powerful signatories to the League covenant failing to honour its obliga-

tions. The position as it is to-day opens up the possibility of a long period of intermittent warfare between Japan and China. The only way to prevent such a state of things is by the establishment of a strong central government in China, but there is a small probability of this for many years to come.