The League and Manchuria
The League Council is still in session over Manchuria. If the general situation is not appreciably better it is not appreciably worse. And in one respect, at any rate—the apparent abandonment by Japan of her intention to march on Chinchow—it is better. But' the news from Manchuria is still conflicting and a .new incident may arise at any moment. The main purpose of the Council is to get an authoritative commission despatched to the spot as soon as possible, and that would no doubt be of value. But it is now over two months since that was first,proposed and Japan has in the interval occupied practically, the whole of Manchuria. News reaching Paris since, makes it clear that the original attack alleged to have been made by Chinese on the South Manchurian. Railway was of the most trivial character, but that on the strength of it the Japanese had within eight hours occupied strategic points more than 200 miles from the railway zone. That evidence of a preconceived plan, which is supported by statements as to Japan's intentions that appeared in the Japan chronicle before the first move had been made, emphasize the difficulties of the situation the League has to handle. But indica- tions that the Foreign Minister, Baron Shidehara, has prevailed on the Emperor to restrain the military— he alone can—are of great importance. That may be the decisive factor in the whole affair.
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