THE BRITISH NOTE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 232, 31 August 1937, Page 7

THE BRITISH NOTE

GENERAL PRESS APPROVAL. RESTRAINT COMMENDED. A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received August 31, 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 30. The terms of the British Note to Japan receive warm approval in the Press. The Times describes them as just. “No British Qovernment could have asked for less in satisfaction for the shocking outrage,” it says, “but to have presented stiffer demands would have been to allow well-justified resentment to outrun reason.

“There is, of course, no suggestion that the attack on the Ambassador was even indirectly instigated by the Japanese authorities, but the machine gunning of his car by Japanese airmen was the consequence of conduct that was, in itself, entirely contrary to all accepted international usage, and the Japanese Government cannot disclaim responsibility for the consequence of this illegal action. The inexcusable part of the affair is tha't the attack, which was made by the Japanese military force, was an attack delivered upon civilian life. This is the real issue. ■ .

“The Note stands on no petty point of honour but- for a fundamental principle which cannot be allowed, in the immense range of modern armaments, to lapse into desuetude.” ' The Daily Telegraph observes that the Note, though firm, is marked by restraint, uncommon enough in these days of dictatorial diplomacy. The natural anticipation is that the Japanese Government will offer the satisfaction asked for.

“Unless the doctrine generally accepted for warfare. on land and sea can be extended to operations from the ajr, future conflicts between great nations must see the collapse of civilisation.” concludes the article. The News-Chronicle, after commending the restraint of the Note, says that it makes demands which any responsible Government, careful of its honour, would have grpnted already.