TEST FOR LEAGUE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 10, 9 December 1932, Page 7

TEST FOR LEAGUE.

"MANCHURIAN PROBLEM. RESPONSIBILITY OF NATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Dec. 7. Reference to tho (Manchurian problem was made last night by Lord Lytton, chairman of the recent commission of inquiry. He maintained that tho emergency with which China and Japan were confronted, whether regarded from the viewpoint of world peaco or from that ot their own national interest, was great enough to justify expectation of a settlement. Tho (Manchurian problem was a test caso not as to whether tlie League of Nations was an effective instrument, but as to whether the collective responsibility of all nations for the maintenance of peace and justice was or was not a real security. If the League failed to find a settlement by agreement, confidence would be still further shaken, but he believed that the League would survive even such a failure as that.

If peaco could bo found it would be to the credit of both countries, and credit they could not possibly receive by resort to war.

DISCUSSION BY ASSEMBLY,

LONDON, Dec. 7. Tho League of Nations Assembly today continued its discussion on the Manchurian question. ' Both Sir John Simon and M. Paul Boncour showed that they had mastered the whole Lytton Report, and stressed that it was an impartial document, not, as generally supposed, wholly condemnatory of Japan, but making,,a measured criticism of both China and Japan. Tho speeches continued all day. but it is hoped that they will be concluded to-night. The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent at Genova compares Sir John Simon’s speech with that of an advocate defending a shady client. He points out that the speeches showed that Britain, Italy and Germany are definitely on tho side of Japan and opposing any League action distasteful to Japan. France’s position is doubtful, though M. Boncour admitted that if conciliation failed the Assembly was bound to make recommendations on tho lines of the Lytton Report.

THREAT BY JAPAN.

MAY WITHDRAW FROM LEAGUE,

GENEVA, Dec. 8. (Mr Matsuoka declared that Japan would withdraw from the League unless the resolution censuring the Japanese action in Manchuria was * withdrawn.

M. Hymans replied that the resolution demanded consideration, and time would be given for full discussion.

CAPTURE OF CHINESE GENERAL

KOBE, Dec. 8. Tho Soviet authorities have handed over tho Chinese General Su Ping-Wen and iforty followers to the combined Japanese and Manchukuo forces in Manchuria.