POSITION IN MANCHURIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21247, 29 July 1932, Page 10

POSITION IN MANCHURIA

ACTION OF THE LEAGUE JAPANESE POLICY CRITICISED The action of the League of Nations in connection with the Eastern trouble was discussed yesterday by Mr. W. T. G. Airey, at a meeting of the Auckland branch of the l-ieague of Nations Union. Mr. G. Cruickshank presided. Although it might be granted that the Japanese had serious grievances, and even that changes were needed, .the action of Japan in resorting to force without any attempt to have matters settled by the League seemed to be a clear breach of the covenant, the Kellogg Pact and the Nine Power Treaty of 1922, Mr; Airey said. This was practically admitted by the Japanese member of the League Council when he said the covenant did not' apply to China on account of her disorganised state. Japan was still in real possession of Manchuria, and the present position •was a challenge to the basic principles of the -League. V "•?: * ! Although -without the ; action •of the League things would have been worse, the council showed weakness when the unpleasant question of the preservation of the covenant had to be faced. There was also delay in the appointment of the commission of inquiry. When China appealed to the Assembly, a more courageous line was taken, and this was mainly due to the small Powers. The Assembly was remaining in session pending the report of the Lyfcton commission, and the test of the League's constructive power to produce a genuine settlement would come then.