PEACE PLAN IN DANGER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18827, 30 September 1924, Page 7

PEACE PLAN IN DANGER

ATTITUDE OP JAPAN.

FEARS AS TO MOTIVES.

POSSIBLE WAR DESIGNS.

EREEDOM TO ACT SOUGHT.

; IMPASSE AT GENEVA.

SERIOUSNESS OF POSITION.

Sy Telecrapb-Pre,, Associationa jv „ fSeceived '-55 p.m.) A and N.Z.-Reuter-Sun. . LONDON. Sept 28 A message fro,, Geneva states that the amendment to Article 5 of the arbitration protocol which the League' of Nations Assembly i s considering, moved yesterday by Baron Adatci (Japan), was designed to enlarge the scope of the League's Council so that it might continue conciliatory efforts, even in the event of a dispute between States being declared by the International Court of Justice to be solely within domestic jurisdiction. Tho amendment concluded with the words, "without prejudice to the Council's duty in endeavouring to conciliate the parties so as to as sure the maintenance of peace and a good understanding between nations." Baron Adatci said, there was a gap in tho League's Covenant, and it was their duty to fill it up. He hoped, therefore, the committee would agree to his amendment, which was the result of long and careful reflection.

Finally, Baron Adatci withdrew his amendment under express reservations on the whole protocol. The point has not yet teen completely cleared up, and the Japanese delegate has not yet made up his mind, but will give way in the end. • Compromise Being Sought. The Genera correspondent of the Central News Agency states that MM. Loucfier and Briand (France) had a long conference with Baron Adatci, with a view to obtaining a modification of Japan's attitude. The latter was adamant, however, find continued to threaten that Japan would not sign the protocol. All correspondents emphasise the seriousness of the position Japan has created. They admit that without Japan's signature the protocol will bo useless, and that the efforts of Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, British Prime Minister, and M. Herriot, French Premier, in the direction of disarmament will be frustrated..

The Daily Telegraph's correspondent says that tho Japanese did nob oppose the. protocol on the committee. Therefore ha believes Baron Adatci's amendment is due to special instructions from Tokio.

The Morning Post's correspondent says that Japan's amour propre has received hard knocks lately, particularly through the American Exclusion Act. Devastated within, and insulted abroad, she is ready to seize on anything to restore her prestige and satisfy Japanese pubb'c opinion.

This correspondent states that other nations, realising this, are exerting them selves to the utmost toward a com promise, but so far no progress has been made. Japan unquestionably wants, sooner or later, to make the immigration question oug for compulsory arbitration, ' which would entail a ride of war- This other nations, including Australia, whose internal policy would be the first to be affected, are opposing strongly. Their grounds are that it wocld be an encroachment on domestic sovereignty and the opening of tho door to interference in all isorts of internal questions. This would soon end the League. The British attitude, says the eorjrespondent, is the most concise. Britain ;will refuse to sign the protocol rather than give away tho principle of non-interfer enco in domestic matters. Critical Situation Created. A later message from Geneva states that the situation created by the Japanese attitude still overshadows the League's activities. The lengthy conversation between •3VI. Briand and the Japanese delegates will probably result in a conference between MM. Briand r and Loucher (France), Sir Cecil Hurst and Lord Parmoor (Britain), and Barons Isshii and Adatci, with Mr. L. E. Groom (Australia) as chairman. The first committee, in which tho dispute originated, considers the Japanese amendment to Article 5 to have been -withdrawn, and therefore beyond, further discussion- Others hope for a settlement without involving Japan's withdrawal of her support of the protocol. . Japan also" desires to eliminate a clause in Article 6, which declares a nation to be an aggressor if it attacks another Cation over a matter which the •' International Court of Justice has ruled to be a domestic problem. This proposal indicates Japan's intention to avoid being named as the aggressor in the event of ' her attacking America over tho exclusion of Japanese from the United States or interfering with' Chinese internal affairs. The deletion of the clause would allow Japan, in caSft of a dispute, concerning "White Australia," to proceed to attack Australia without immediately becoming an aggressor, although the matter might have been previously ruled by the International Court to be domestic, and beyond the League's interference. The Japanese delegates now hint that unanimity will not prevail among the British and Dominions' delegates, owing to India's antagonism to a "White Australia."