LYTTON REPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1932, Page 5

LYTTON REPORT

PAR EAST ISSUE FURTHER PARTICULARS. ' * I '' _ (United Preso Association —By Electric , Telegraph—Copyright.) • \ LONDON, October. 2. v The Lytton Report consist of 139 printed pages, besides and appendix. the " ‘ Sino—Japanese cpulcLhave' been solved by arbitration, -buti,their handling had so embittered relations, that a conflict was inevitable. The 'report emphasisesyhpw.. the Chinese Government weakness seriously embarrassed '.Japanese rights and interests; how anxiously Japan endeavoured to keep Manchuria apart from the rest of .the ; Government of China, but Manchuria’s overwhelming Chinese popuplation opposed (separation. It is asserted that Japan, without declaring war, forcibly seized and occupied a large area i of indisputably territory, which: consequently i separated, and declared' itself indet pendent of the rest .of China. The report continues : ‘ The restoration. before September of v. the conditions merely invite a repetition of the trouble, but that recognition of the present Manchurian regime is incompatible with the fundamental principle : ; of the. existing international obligo* tiofliiA It is opposed--to: .China’s interests, and it is. Tuestiohftble whether it, will ultimately ? serve Japan’s permanent interests. The Commissionrecognises Manchurials great importance' economically..to Japan, whose demand for stable Government is reasonable, and only achievable by an -■ .administration conforming. to the e ppplilation’s wishes Japan should isolate y. the ManchuriL an problem ' from. her? relations with \ China in such a mahner' that -friend- ' ship and economic collaboration with China will be possible. While acknowledging Japan.’s interests in preventing ~ i: Mancßuria beeem- . . ing a.. ba s e . of';; opbriitions directed ’ against -her, it is j questionable whether an indefinite financial burden i? the; best safeguard' against- external danger. Japan should consider peaceful means of achieving .security, mo-e ' analagous to other ' nations’ 1 arrange ments. • ' „ . ’ 1 ' China’s political instability ' vitally • concerns' the world, accordingly temporary international do-operation to [ reconstruct China is fundamental to Mi the requisite solution. i V . The report recommends the League ■ Council to invite : the Sino-Japanese to : .rdiscusa" the ) soldtioii * and 77 afterwards Conference, with local-population re- • preseniatiyes, to recommend a constitution, for the three Eastern provinces. /• ... PRESS CRITICISM. LONDON,, October 2. The ‘’“Daily Plail,’’ in an editorial, says: The Lytton report leads / no- & where. It displays fi Chinese bias, its constructive propcsals.. involve years \ of negotiation and conferences. / Japan’s control of. Manchuria is a matter of life and' death. Hen presence there is as natural, and as salutary as Britain’9 in India. CHINESE OPINION. . . ‘ -1. PEKIN, October 2. 1 The • Lytton report offers a, promising basis for permanent settlement of the Manchurian , problem provided the Japanese can .be persuaded to accept it,...was the initial reaction of the Manchurian officials, here, on receiving a copy of the'document. tk LATER VIEWPOINT. ■/ ",, SHANGHAI, October 3. later, 'message says that in China < Ahe Lytton report created chiefly disappointment, leading , the Peking papers‘to declare that the report 7 will turn / out to. be a mere “piece of paper,’’.unacceptable to either China or Japan. - The Shanghai press also is equally divided in praise and blame of the report. 1 This attitude mainly due to a belief, which is not justifiable, that the League of Nations, would eventually fight China’s battle, against Japan, ever, if necessary, resorting to arms. The general Chinese" preps .belief is that the Lytton commission has fallen between two. stools.,.

y CHINESE GOVERNMENT. reflecting on the report. " SHANGHAI, October *3. The Nanking Government’s spokes- . man, when interviewed by Chinese' newspapermen, appealed to trie members of the Government, and the general public to consider the Lytton Commission’s recommendations from a broad point of view, in terms of the national and racial welfare. The public, he said, should not despair over Jthe report, nor should the public place / on the other hand, any undue confid*vnce iit-thp League of Nations. Only , by her own .self determination and energetic efforts .could China hope to achieve a.. fpiOfactory ./ solution of the disniiije with Japan. f The Government, s'- 1 far, has not issued any comment, thonsrh it is .expected shortly to do so following on the consideration of the report by the y'f- Central Political Council and the LegYuan.

JAPANESE THREAT. TO LEAVE LEAGUE. SHANGHAI, October 3. A message from Kobe, Japan, states that the Japanese Government expresses keen dissatisfaction with the Lytton Commission report, especially the parts of it criticising Japan’s military action in Manchuria, and its ascribing of the formation of the Manchukuo State to Japanese initiative. 9he Japanese Government threatens that if the League of Nations shapes its future attitude on the Lytton Commission’s erroneous ideas, Japan is ready to ' withdraw from League membership. REPORT PRAISED. LONDQN, October 3. “The Times’ ’’ Geneva correspondent says: “The Lytton Commission’s report has created a good impression. The conclusions are regarded as clear, logical and practicable, though the procedure is considered cumbersome.” LONDON PRESS OPINION. DISCOUNTS THE REPORT. LONDON, October 3. The comments of the London papers on the Lytton Commission’s report are. varied. ■ The “Daily Telegraph” says: “The prospects of the League of Nations bringing about co-operation between Japan and China are of the remotest, The Japanese Government regards the /Manchurian question as settled, and while ' that view is unchanged, the laborious work of the Lytton Commission will go for nothing. The state of China explains, if -it does not fully justify Japan’s action.” The “Morning Post” says: “If Japan and the Powers could unite to set Humpty-Dumpty on the wall again, it would be a great achievement, but , it is rather, a large assumption it ean be done. That the Chinese Republic is regarded as the ruler of Chin a is polite fiction.” The “Daily Mail,” in an editorial, I says: The. Lytton report leads nowhere. It displays Chinese bias, its constructive proposals involve years ot negotiation and conferences. Japan’s * control of Manchuria is a/ matter of life and death. Her presence there is as natural and as salutary as Britain’s in India. ; • 1 ’ : . .. . . i “TIMES” COMMENT. GUIDED BY EXPEDIENCY! LONDON, October 3. “The Times’,” in a leading article, says: “The Lytton Commission’s conclusions are impaired by delay. The Commissoin’s suggested solution might W e H be suited to the Manchurian conditions as the Commission found-them. Unfortunately, it is clear that at present the Japanese Government will not accept them. Nevertheless, Japan has become involved in an immense undertaking. Japan’s Treasury cannot stand the continuous necessary drain to suppress the rising. The Japanese peopie may, in time, share the Lytton Commission’s conclusion that their disregard for Manchurian feelings will not serve Japan’s permanent interests. The Council of the League of Nations faces the problem of maintaining the principles of the League Covenant without ignoring the facts of an unprecedented situation.” The “Daily Herald” (Labour) contrary to other London papers, says: “The Lytton Commission’s report establishes the fact that Japan is guilty of a series of acts of aggression against a fellow member of the League of Nations. Her excuses are baseless and in. valid. It is hard to see how even Sir John Simon ean condone the action of Japan.” AMERICAN INTEREST. BUT NO ACTION. WASHINGTON, October 2. The Lytton Commission report has been received here with intense interest in official circles to-day. It is generally believed that it broadly coincides with many points of the position taken by the United States, bnt all of the officials have withheld comment pending careful study. Mr Stiinson did not read it during the day, as he returned late from a speaking engagement at Philadelphia. However, observers who commented, implied American backing of the sanctity of treaties , which was the theme of Mr Stinson’s recent utterances. It is understood ,the Government intends to make no move in the Manchurian situation at’ present, as they continue to hold that the only proper course is to await the action ot the League of Nations, which undertook to report to Washington.