Dividend & Avenol

In Geneva elegant, brisk Paul Hymans, Foreign Minister of Belgium, looked down his long straight nose at the Representatives of 55 states. As their chairman he had just called to order the Assembly of the League of Nations, meeting last week to consider the report of its Lytton Commission on Japan's rape of Manchuria -- Japan contending that Manchuria was willing.

Spain, Czechoslovakia, Sweden and the Irish Free State promptly led an effort to arouse the conscience of the Great Powers. Each of the "Little Four" rejected Japan's excuse that she seized Manchuria in "self defense"; all scored Japan for setting up in Manchuria the puppet state of "Manchukuo"; all pledged their Governments never to recognize Manchukuo and all accused Japan of violating both the Nine-Power Treaty and the Covenant of the League.

"We must have the courage to stand behind the findings of our commission!" cried Free State Senator Joseph Connolly in rich, impassioned brogue. "If the League hesitates or falters, fearing lest by its action it may offend, then as an organization built up by moral support of what is right the League will not survive and will not deserve to survive!"

This drew cheers and a burst of hand-claps--ordinarily banned in the Assembly. Even louder applause rang out when Dr. Eduard Benes, perpetual Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia, said. "Is the League aware that this is a great test case which will establish precedents for future disputes? . . . Any policy of compromise as regards principles will lead to failure and ultimate death for the League."

Two Lawyers-- Britain's conscientious James Ramsay MacDonald and liberal, pacific Premier Edouard Herriot of France were too harassed about debts & disarmament to say a word to the League Assembly last week, did honor its opening session by their presence but left before the appeals to conscience began.

The heavy, thankless job of squelching the minor nations--who required squelching because otherwise Japan would have withdrawn from the League--was left to two of Europe's highest priced lawyers, Maitre Joseph Paul-Boncour, the sonorous, theatrical War Minister of France and Sir John Simon, icy, meticulous British Foreign Secretary. Neither of these special pleaders so much as mentioned the issues--whether Japan acted in self defense ; whether she broke treaties; whether League states should recognize Manchukuo. Instead both pressed for delay and Sir John Simon devoted most of his speech to stressing "the need of being practical" and rebuking the Chinese Government for not having suppressed Communism in its central provinces--1,000 mi. from Manchukuo, the land under discussion.

Bounding to his feet after Sir John sat down, Spain's Salvador de Madariaga cried: "Practical men, whose political shortsightedness is incurable, would like to limit our efforts by saying 'Provided we can reach a practical solution, let us pass a sponge over the rest.' That is to say. 'Provided I can receive a dividend this year, never mind about the capital.' To this madness, Spain desires to say 'No!' The League Covenant will perish if we permit Chinese Manchuria to become Japanese Manchukuo."

Japan & Nazarene-- Next morning Japan's Chief Delegate, swart, smart Yosuke Matsuoka, prepared for a show-down by telling newsreel men to get their cameras ready "in case I am historically obliged to withdraw from the Assembly."

This proved unnecessary. To an Assembly which had blown off its conscientious steam, Mr. Matsuoka delivered with crushing effect a speech in which he declared, "the whole Japanese nation is solidly behind our military leaders who have acted as they should. Sixty-five million Japanese stand together as one man! Do you think all of them have gone mad? . . .

"No strong Chinese Government can be expected in the next ten years--perhaps not even in 20 years--perhaps not before the grave. . . . Cannot the League take a hint from the realities and quit encouraging China? . . .

"Even if world public opinion be against us, Japan will persist forever! . . . Humanity crucified Jesus of Nazareth 2,000 years ago. What of today? . . . We are prepared to be crucified, but we do believe and firmly believe that in a very few years world public opinion will have changed and that we, also, shall be understood by the world as Jesus of Nazareth now is!"

Overnight the effect of Mr. Matsuoka's speech, plus pressure from the Great Powers, squelched the "Little Four" so completely that the League Assembly, when it met again, took just, three minutes to pigeonhole the 100,000-word Lytton Report and put the Manchurian question on ice by referring it to the League's Special Committee of Nineteen. This Committee will deliberate at leisure and attempt, next year, to obtain the co-operation of the U. S. and Soviet Russia in eventual mediation under League auspices between China and Japan.

Avenol Investiture-- Final work of the Assembly before adjourning last week was to confirm by a rubber-stamp vote the League Council's "nomination" last October of a successor to gruff. Scottish Sir Eric Drummond, popular Secretary General of the League since its foundation 13 years ago.

In order to get the nomination, secretive, unpopular M. Joseph Avenol, a Frenchman who has been Deputy Secretary General since 1923, was obliged to buy the indispensable support of Britain, Germany, Japan and Italy by promising that citizens of these countries will hold four out of the five highest Secretarial posts under himself as Secretary General.

Last week M. Avenol referred to his cut & dried election by the Assembly as an investiture. "I promise," he said solemnly, "to do my utmost to promote open, just and honorable relations among nations."

Sir Eric Drummond, who has wanted to resign for the past three years because he thinks the League needs "new blood" and because he aspires to a British Ambassadorship, said: "I ask those whom I may have offended here to believe that my actions were for what I thought was the good of the League. . . . The League is a living thing. It is growing. Who knows to what stature--by your support--it will not attain?"

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