LEAGUE MEETS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1933, Page 5

LEAGUE MEETS

DRAMATIC SCENE

JAPAN’S CASE STARTED.

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received this day at 9.40 a.m.) GENEVA, February 24

In a tense atmosphere, in which there was a. full muster of smiling Japanese, the Assembly discussed the report of the Committee of Nineteen. The Chinese delegate, Yen, dramatica'liy declared that because of the lust for the usurption' of'power by military uneTains bent on righting the instruments of peace and public opinion, Japan stands isolated. The League’s findings were a crashing, but fair verdict of duty against Japanese mi.itarism He congratulated the League on its courageous verdict. Mr Matsuoka .said Japan was sadly disappointed to have to reject the report, which failed to realise the appalling situation resulting from twenty years of illustrious revolting in China, who had been derelict in duties as a sovereign state, and as the result of which Japan had been the greatest sufferer. The revolution had shattered China, and detached the dependencies under the Manchu dynasty. China liad obstructed Japan’s efforts to make Manchuria a land of peace and order, The people’s distress and misery was beyond the imagination of the average westerner. The end of the catastrophe is not yet in sight. Before the Assembly voted he wanted China’s positon made clear. On the committee’s recommendation there should be some form of international control in China, which hitherto had broken international pledges and had not respected her principles.

ASSEMBLY ADOPTS REPORT.

JAPANESE DELEGATES WITHDRAW.

(Received this day at 9.20 a.m.) GENEVA, February 24.

By 49 votes to one the Assembly adopted the report. Japan was the minority. The climax to the dramatic sitting was reached when, declaring that Japan could not accept the draft report, M. Matsuoka led the delegation out of the chamber.

M. Matsuoka declared that Japan had reached the limit of her endeavours to co-operate with the League. Nevertheless she would continue to strive to establish peace in the Far East, and to strengthen cordial relations with other nations.

M. Matsuoka’s declaration does not reveal whether Japan intends to leave the League. The withdrawal of the delegates indicates non-co-operation, but M. Sugimura, foreign under-secre-tary to tlu; League, did not accompany the delegates,