TREATY POWERS DECLARE AGAINST JAPAN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 44, 15 November 1937, Page 5

TREATY POWERS DECLARE AGAINST JAPAN

-Press 'Association-

"NO LEGAL JUSTfflCATION" Draft Reply Sweepingly Refutes Tokio Note CAUSES OF ACTON 1N CHINA

(By Telegraph-

— Copyright)

(Received 15, 8.45 a.m.), LONDON, November 13. Pleading to the Powers to withhold supplies from Japan and ftend help to China, the Chinese delegate, Dr. Wellington Koo, in a bitter. speech at the full session of the Brussels Conference, said: ••The' conference is back where it started. Nexther a spirit of concfliation nor soft words are of any avail with Japan. Instead she ahohld he bluntly asked to collaboiiate in the interests of peace. The conference's efforts have been taken as a sign of wefikness and have served only to inspire Jiapans' insolence. "Japan 's claim that her actions are self-defensive is a deliberate distortion. China for years has patiently sought a peac.eful settlement. The present conflict is the result of. perpetual dual diplomacy, and has convinced China of the danger and futility of direct negotiations. Are the Powers to accept changes by force of arms and condone treaty violations'" Dr. Koo appealed to them to contribute to the stability of peace by upholding treaty obligations. "K the conception of a change to violcnce prevails we are faced with international anarchy," declared Mr. Norman Davis, the American delegate. "JVe are pledged to work for the immutable foundation of peace" He was confdent the conference could have helped . China and. Japan. .There were compelling reasons, including Japan's material self-interest and world peace and prpgress, why they shonld co-operate. Mr. Anthony Eden said it was impossible for Britain to assent jbo the doctrine oi conflict. The matter was one for .China and Japan alone. Britain based her foreign policy on respect for international law. No other was acceptable. INTERFERENCE NOT JUSTIFIED. "I cannot admit the principle that dislike of a nation' s Government or internal institutions justifies another's interference in her internal affairs by force," he said. "It is in the interests of both the Powers waging an undeclared war that an agreed settlement be found immediately. It Is necessary carefully to consider the international situation which the Japanese reply has created. .The only foundation for world peace is respect for treaties, not national ambitions, ideologies and alliances. We are not opposed to change, but if changes continujs to be based on force, civilisation will proceed to its destruction with ever-increasing suffering." M. Potemkin said Russia would support any peaceful action for the solution of the Par Eastern problem ■„ - .The chairman, M. Spaa^:, submitted a draft declaration prepared by Britain, France, America and Belgium, and the conference adjourned. The draft declaration, a seven-page document, sweepingly refutes Japan 's defence. It says Japan 's concept of the jssue is entirely different from that of most other nations. The conflict concerns all countries, whether signatories of the Nine-Power Treaty or the Paris Pact. There is no legal justification for violating another country's territory to prevent the spread of politieal doctrines. If Japan's case were admitted it wonld lead to general anarchy. The Powers agree that as it has been declared that the purpose of Japan is to destroy the will and ability of China to xesist, direct negotiations can only prolong the war > indefinitely. In the event of Japan's continued refusal to attend the conference the Powers must consider what attitude to take w.hen one party claims to set aside a treaty which all others hold to be operative. * NO FURTHER CONSULTATION WITH JAPAN. The conference, with the exception of Italy, established a solid front against further consultation with Japan. The session resumed privately at 5 p.m., England, France, America, Australia, Canada, Portugal, Bojivia, Mexico, Cliina, Sweden, Holland and Norway having supported the declaration. Italy through Count Aldrovandi-Mariscotti, made general represehtations, and suggested asking Japan to elueidate the seetion of her reply inviting the conference to make a contribution consonant with the realities of the situation. This received no support, on which Count Aldrovandi-Mariscotti announeed that Italy found the draft unacceptable, Mr. Stanley Bruee, Australia, who was warmly applauded, lengthily supported the declaration. He said there was something greater behind the whole issue, namely, the sanctity of treaties and fche honouring of the pledged word. The conference declaration was diseussed, paragraph by paragraph, before the adoption, of the draft in principle, subject to reference to the Governments concerned. The conference adjourned at 8 p.m. and will reassemble at 4 p.m. on Monday, when the declaration will probably be formally adopted. A modification of the draft included the elimination, at Russia 's instance, of any direct referenee to Communism and also the suggestion of a further invitation being extended to' Japan.