The Next Step in China
The bomb outrage which severely injured half a dozen of the most prominent Japanese in Shanghai, including Mr. Shigemitsu, the Ambassador to China, a week ago, will fortunately have no international consequences, since it was committed by a Japanese subject (a Korean) on territory in Japanese occupation. The armistice between the Japanese and Chinese forces has nevertheless not yet been signed, though the League of Nations Assembly on . Saturday approved without enthusiasm the formula drafted at Shanghai by Sir Miles Lampson. All reference to the withdrawal of the Japanese troops by a definite date, or even a date to be subsequently fixed, has been dropped. Signature of the armistice will clear the way for the consideration or-hirger issues, notably the boycott, by -a round table conference at Shanghai.
Meanwhile, the Lytton Commission has sent a first report on Manchuria and rumours of trouble between Russia and Japan on the northern frontiers of that province persist. Neither side has any reason to welcome a conflict there, but guns sometimes go off unexirctedly. China's future may depend very largely on her willingness to accept, or preferably to invite, a large .measure of. assistance from the League of Nations in the task of organising her national administration.
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