Standstill in Manchuria As aftermath of the Manchurian discussions in
Paris the Japanese delegate, Mr. Yoshizawa, has gone to Tokyo to be Foreign Minister (or so it is confidently rumoured) ; the Chinese, Dr. Sze, has gone to hospital to recover from overstrain ; and the Chinese President and Cabinet have resigned. The resolution finally adopted by the Council provided for the despatch to Manchuria of a League Commission of five members, to enquire into all causes of dispute between Japan and China—exceedingly wide terms of reference—but not to interfere with any local military arrangements. There matters rest for the present, the Japanese not having so far occupied the corner of Manchuria still in Chinese hands. On another page a friendly and highly-qualified observer subjects the League Council to searching criticism. Lord Grey and Lord Cecil, on the other hand, have publicly defended it, on the ground that it has done everything possible in the peculiar circumstances, and that without it there would have been open war and haphazard and perilous interventions by European Powers. That is no doubt true. But the unpleasant fact remains that after three months the League has failed to save China from the military occupation by Japan of a part of her territory as large as France and Germany combined. Nothing is ,gained by disguising or palliating that.
