IN FAVOUR OF CHINA

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 344, 4 October 1932, Page 5

IN FAVOUR OF CHINA

(Press. Assn.-

8 i SAP - " :j: & zvi rr? SINO-JAPANESE DISPUTE COi'I.ES |-f\V*K COULDJHAVE BEEN SETTLED • • j IMPORTANT PROPOSALS \ The report of the Lytton Com- j ipsssion, which was set up hy the League of Nations to consi-der the « Sino-Jap^nese dispute regarding ! AAanchuria, has been lodged at ; Geneva. It is generaliy regarded as being favourable to China, but recognis.es the importance of Japan's interests, and makes several inaportaut recommendations.

— By Telegraph — Copvright).

Ree. Oct. 3. London, Oct. 2. A Geneva message says that the Lytton report on Manchuria has beep submitted. It is regardecf as being distinctly. favourable ,to China. The principal recommendation is the establishment of a Sino-Japanese advisory eonference, with mutual ob.servers, to solve the problem, subject to the maintenance of China's sovereign rights. The report consists of 139 printed pages, besides the introduction and appendix. It declares that the Sino-Japanese issue could have been solved by arbitration, but the handling of it by China and Japan so embittered relations that a conflict was inevitable. The report empbasised how the Chinese Governnient's weakness seriously embarrassed Japanese rights and interests, and how anxiously Japan endeavoured to keep Manchuria apart from the rest of the Government of China, but Manchuria's overwhelming Chinese population opposed separation. It is. asserted that Japan, without declaring war, forcibly seiz'ed and occupied a large area of indisputably Chinese territory, which consequently separated and declared itself independent of the rest of China. The report continues: — "The restoration of the beforeSeptember conditions would merely invire a repitition of the trouble, but that recognition of the present Manchurian regime is incompatible v/ith the fundamental principle cf existing international obligations. It is opposed to China's interests and it is questionable whether is would ultimately serve Japan's permanent interests." The commission recognises Manchuria's great importance economically to Japan, whose demand for a stablo government is reasonable, but is only achievable by the administration conforming- to the population's wishes. Japan should isolate the Manchurian problem from her relations with China in sueh a manner that friendship and economic collaboration with China would be possible. Rlilitary Occupation Deprecated The report, while acknowledging | Japan's interests in preventing Man- j churia becoming a base for military j operations directed against her, says j it is auestionable whether indefinite military occupation, involving a heavy fmancial burden. is the best safeguard against external danger. Japan should consider pcaceful means for achieving security more analogous to other nations' arrangements. The report reminds other Powers of their obligations to assist in the reconstruction of China, whose disintegration would lead to serious international rivalries. Clearly any solution of the problem ignoring the Soviet's important interests would endanger future peace. The report's recommendations include a settlement subject to the League principles and Soviet approval also in conformation with the League Covenant, the Kellogg Pact and the Nine Power Treaty. Japan's rights and interests in Manchuria niust be recognised, and the respective rights, interests and responsibilities must be re-stated in new treaties if future frietion is to be avoided. The Manchurian Government must be modified, in a manner consistenj; with China's sovereignty and administrative integrity, enabling considerable authority to be_ conferred. International order should he secured hy an effective gendarmerie • and all other forces should be v/ithdrawn. Interested countries should conclude a non-aggression treaty with China and Japan. . , . j China's political instability vitally concerns the world; .accordingly temporary international co-operation to reconstruct China is fundamental to a requisite solution. The report reeommends the Leagne Council to invite China and, Japan to discuss a solution and afterwards to summon the Sinq-f^panese^ Advisory Board for a eonference with local population representatives to recommend a constitu,tion for the three Eastern proviiices.