PROPOSALS TO END STRIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21098, 4 February 1932, Page 8

PROPOSALS TO END STRIFE.

In the detailed proposals submitted to China and Japan by Britain and the United StatesFrance and Italy being understood to have endorsed these—there is presented a searching test of the good faith that each of the combatants has protested. The first and second, urging a complete cessation of hostilities and a truce that extends to preparations for hostilities, call a halt merely; but if they are unacceptable to either there will be proof of sinister intent, pursued without reference to the good opinion of the world. By the third, which stipulates withdrawal of fighting forces from all points of contact, there is sought evidence of positive readiness to end the affray, pending investigation of the issues at stake. This goes far, for it means sacrifice of advantage which either side may be disposed to claim; yet without it there would be little hope of a speedy termination of the conflict. The fourth, relating to the safety of the International Settlement in Shanghai, is practically a demand to have unquestioned right of holding control of national positions ' conceded by existing treaty. *There has been Japanese objection to this policing of neutral zones by other Powers, but refusal of this now will reveal a scandalous disregard of covenants to which both Japan and China are pledged. If these proposals were all, however, there would lie left a loophole for the plea that belligerent action, involving even the International Settlement, is necessitated by emergency; and so the final proposal is made, offering means to investigate promptly the whole cause of quarrel, under appropriate safeguards of the rights of each party. Each charges the other with being the aggressor in the original and underlying trouble: hence their justification in fighting an allegedly defensive battle. To be assured that impartial observers will see to the adequate and proper conducting of negotiations is to have an offer that takes the quarrel away from the arbitrament of war. If both can have just claims honoured without fighting, why fight? It may be too optimistic to look for ready acceptance of the proposals, but their refusal will be difficult unless the combatants are incorrigibly reckless.