The League and China The resolution passed by the League
of Nations Council on Wednesday regarding the war in China was as much as could be expected of the Council in the existing circumstances. It is of no avail to China, for though States particularly interested are encouraged to discuss together the "feasibility," instead of the " possibility " to which the original draft of the resolution referred, of taking any further steps to effect a just settlement of the conflict neither General Chiang Kai-shek in China nor Dr. Wellington Koo at Geneva can feel that the resolution, or indeed the existence, of the League of Nations makes the outlook for his country a whit less black. That is the unhappy situation which in present circumstances we have to face. The League does exist; therefore the Council had to pass a resolution deploring what is happening in Asia. But Europe is split in two ; therefore support of an Asiatic member of the League by European members is not to be thought of. For Great Britain to send a battle fleet to the Far East would be to invite naval war, or British humiliation, in waters far nearer home. The world- situation is not hopeless. But the key to it lies in Europe. Any improvement in international relations there would have effects in every continent. The negotiation of an agree- ment, such as Mr. Eden spoke of on Wednesday, for the limitation of air warfare would be of the highest moral value, though some form of guarantee for its observance would clearly need to be devised. * *
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