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The League and Manchuria The" latest messages from Geneva, suggesting that the League Council is proposing simply to leave Japan and China three weeks in which to come to terms between themselves regarding the withdrawal of the Japanese troops and the guarantee by China of the safety of Japanese subjects in Manchuria is profoundly disturbing. These statements arc so far unofficial and they may. be- in- accurate. If. the Council is really conteMplatirig action of this kind it will have gone far to forfeit its claim to public confidence. Patience is often enough a virtue, at Geneva as elsewhere, but it is now well over a. month since the Manchurian affair was brought before the Council by the Chinese delegate and China io entitled to protest that so far she has got no satisfaction whatever, apart from the fact, admittedly fundamental, that any further Japanese advance has been arrested .and some of the troops withdrawn. But even in regard .to that there is some uncertainty, in view of rumours of renewed clashes between Japanese and Chinese troops. M. Briand spoke significantly at one meeting of the Couneilof the resolve of the League to use every power at -its, disposal, in case of need. The Council cannot afford to create:the impression that it . will never do more than -talk. about using its powers. Premature action and the. language of menace are hoth.to be avoided, but the question-of withdrawing . Ambassadors from Tokyo if prompt with- drawal of the Japanese troops is- refused ought to be under very serious consideration..
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