LEAGUE COUNCIL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 244, 15 October 1931, Page 7

LEAGUE COUNCIL

ROTH SIDES HEARD. [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Oct. 13. At Geneva to-day the special session of the League Council, over which M. Briand presided, heard ? long statement from Dr. Sze and M. Yoshizawa, representatives respectively of China and Japan, upon the situation in Manchuria. Dr. Sze referred to the bombing of Chinchow by Japanese military aeroplanes and declared that the Chinese Government had entrusted its case entirely to the League. He argued that if the League was unable to prevent such acts of violence, it would be useless to call the Disarmament Conference, as all nations would asume that there was no alternative but to depend upon the strength of their own forces. China, however, believed that the League would be able to safeguard peace in the Far East. M. Yoshizawa declared that Japan had no territorial pretensions in Manchuria. For two years the situation there had grown increasingly troublesome, and on September 18 Japanese troops were attacked by uniformed Chinese soldiery. The Japanese Government was entirely prepared to begin direct negotiations with the Chinese Government. The chief difficulty lay in the confused situation in Manchuria, but the Japanese Government was strongly disposed to withdraw its troops as soon as security was really assured. The Chinese Government, on its part, should make an effort to stop the anti-Japanese campaign, after which normal relations would be quickly established. M. Yoshizawa said that he had no information regarding two fresh Japanese air attacks alleged by Dr. Sze, but in reply to Lord Reading he undertook to request information from his Government. M. Briand said that the next Council Biectiag would be announced later.