NINE-POWER TALKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 252, 23 October 1937, Page 9

NINE-POWER TALKS

REPLIES TO INVITATIONS DOUBTS ABOUT JAPAN MUST PUSH BACK CHINESE FIRST. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) TOKIO, Oct. 21. An invitation to the Nine-Power Conference was handed to the Foreign Office by the Belgian Ambassador.

The Japanese Press says that the i chances of unqualified acceptance are very slim because the conference is i being called on the initiative of the League, with which Japan is not co- ■ operating. It is contended that the 1 matter can better be settled between China and Japan and that intervention will further complicate the situ- ' ation. NATION DETERMINED WILL SEE WAR THROUGH Received Oct. 22, 11.5 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 22. The Tokio correspondent of the times says it is believed in official Tinies says it is believed in official nient will refuse to accept the Brussels conference invitation on broad gr ds, namely that there can be no peace until Nanking’s power is shattered. The Government feels that any peace now would merely bo an armistice. The whole nation, including financial and commercial circles, is determined to see the war through. ITALIAN ATTITUDE ACCEPTANCE PROBABLE. ROME, Oct. 21. It is authoritatively stated that Italy’s acceptance of the invitation to the Nine-Power Conference is most probable. A report that a reply has already been sent to Brussels is not confirmed. .FAVOURABLE REPLIES N.Z., AUSTRALIA, HOLLAND AND CHINA. BRUSSELS, Oct. 21. New Zealand, Australia, Holland and China have accepted the invita-; tion to the Nine-Power Conference. BROKEN CLAUSES NINEPOWER TREATY JAPANESE AGGRESSION The signatories to the Nine-Power Treaty relating to the Far East, which was signed at Washington on February 6, 1922, will meet shortly to consider the Japanese aggression (says a writer in the Sydney Morning Herald). The nine signatories comprise the following:—The United States of America, Belgium, the British Empire, China, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Portugal. The conference will be held in accordance with Article VII. of the Treaty, which declares that whenever a situation arises which in the opinion of any one of the signatories involves the application of its stipulations there shall be a full and frank communication between them. Japan before her invasion of Manchukuo was a member of the League of Nations Covenant. In addition, she signed the Kellogg Pact, or Pact of Paris, of 1928, binding most members of the League, and some important States outside it; and also the socalled Washington Treaties of 192122, of which the most important for the present purpose is the NinePower Pact. General Principles At the Washington Conference the Chinese delegation submitted for consideration ten general principles, according to which in their view questions relating to China should be considered. After discussion of these Mr Elihu Root, of the American delegation, drafted certain resolutions expressing the agreement that existed among the members of the conference as to the principles which should govern the relations of the Powers with China. These resolutions —the socalled “Root” principles—were incorporated in Article 1 of the Treaty and provided for an agreement by the signatory Powers:— “1. To respect the sovereignty, the independence, and the territorial and administrative integrity of China. “2. To provide the fullest and most unembarrassed opportunity to China to develop and maintain for herself an effective and stable Government. “3. To use their influence for the purpose of effectually establishing and maintaining the principle of equal op-

portunity for the commerce and industry of all nations throughout the territory of China; and, “4. To refrain from taking advantage of conditions in China in order to seek special rights or privileges which would abridge the rights of subjects or citizens of friendly States, and from countenancing action inimical to the security of such State.” Open Door in China. The expressed desire of the signatories as set out in the preamble was to adopt a policy designed to stabilise conditions in the Far East, to safeguard the rights and interests of China, and to promote intercourse between China and the other Powers upon the basis of equality of opportunity (i.e., the open door principle). Subsidiary articles implementing these purposes were:— Article H. “The contracting Powers agree not to enter into any treaty, agreement, arrangement, or understanding, either with one another or individually or collectively, with any Power or Powers which would infringe or impair the principles in article I.” Article HI. “With a view to applying more effectually the principles of uie open door or equality of opportunity in China for the trade and industry of ail nations the contracting Powers, other than China, agree they will not seek nor support their respective nationals in seeking: (a) Any arrangement which might purport to establish in favour of tneir interests any general superiority of rights with respect to commercial or economic development in any designated region of China.

“5. Any such monopoly or preference as would deprive the nationals of any other Power of the right of unuertaking any legitimate trade or industry in China, or of participating with the Chinese Government, or with any local authority, id any category of public enterprise, or whicn, oy reason of its’ scope, duration, or geograpnical extern, is calculated to irustrate the practical application of the principle of equai opportunity.

It is understood that the foregoing stipulations of this article are not to oe so construed as to prohibit tile acquisition of such properties or riguua as may be necessary to the conduct of a particular commercial, industrial, or financial undertaking, or to the encouragement of invention and research. “China undertakes to be guided by the principles stated in the foregoing stipulations of the Article in dealing with applications for economic rights and privileges from Governments and nationals of all foreign countries, whether parties to the present treaty or not.” Article IV. The contracting Powers agree not to support any agreement by their respective nationals with each other de--1 signed to create spheres of influence,

or to provide for the enjoyment of mutually exclusive opportunities of designated parts of Chinese territory.” The Kellogg Pact. Japan is also a signatory of the Kellogg Pact, or Pact of Paris, of 1928, providing for the renunciation of war “as an instrument of national policy.” In April, 1927, M. Briand had addressed a personal message to the American people, in which he suggested that the tenth anniversary of the World War might be appropriately celebrated by the conclusion of a mutual engagement renouncing war as an instrument of national policy. Hit idea was embodied-in a draft treaty sent to Mr Kellogg, then American Secretary of State, in thar following June. Though the initiative came from France, M. Briand was admittedly inspired by an American citizen, Professor Shotwell. America, therefore, became entitled to the larger share of credit for this Pactwhich has become best known as the Kellogg Pact. Adherence to the Pac f was eventually notified by many nations.

The two principle articles are:— 1. The High Contracting Parties solemnly declare in the names of their respective peoples that they condemn recourse tp war for the solution of international controversies, and renounce it as an instrument of national policy in their relations with one another.

2. The High Contracting Parties agree that the settlement or solution of all disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may bo, which may arise among them, shall never be sought except by pacific means.