Yet there is no " war." The sanctions of the
Covenant of the League of Nations are not invoked nor apparently invocable. We are careful not to ignore the extreme provocation that Japan has had in Manchuria under Chinese misrule or anarchy. But that does not absolve her. A definition of an " aggressor " is often asked for in discussions of subjects in which the League is con- cerned. It would scarcely be unfair to define the word as a nation which acts as Japan has acted. China does not declare war. If she did, perhaps she might be technically the " aggressor " in the face of all the facts. Doctor Yen brought the matter up at a meeting of the League Council on Tuesday. The Japanese delegate said that Admiral Nomura had given instructions for the cessation of hostilities. No one in Shanghai seems to have become aware of this. The Committee of Inquiry at Shanghai is reporting to the Council. It is not concerned with the very important constitutional question of Japanese responsibility. The naval and military commanders there are not responsible to the civil Government, but directly to the Mikado. They are an Executive beyond the control of his civil advisors. Here let us express our regret of the foul murder in Tokyo of Mr. Inouye, the former Finance Minister, and until Tuesday, when he was shot, leader of the Opposition.
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