Buzz-Buzz

Badgered by the charming lady who thinks he should pay her more alimony, M. Joseph Avenol, Secretary General of the League of Nations, was full of private grief last week. Even so, something had to be done to mark the fact that Japan's resignation from the League became effective last week, exactly two years after the Japanese delegation defiantly walked out headed by cold-cigar-chewing Japanese League Delegate Yosuke Matsuoka (TIME, March 6, 1933). Turning from his own troubles to the League's, M. Avenol, unaware that he was stirring up two Oriental hornets' nests, perfunctorily announced: "The legal bond between Japan and the League ceases to exist. Japan no longer has any rights or obligations as regards the League."

Instantly Chinese League Delegate Victor Hoo buzzed in to sting the Secretary General. "What does he mean by saying Japan now has no 'obligations'?" asked Dr. Hoo. "It is not for M. Avenol to interpret the Covenant of the League of Nations. In a wide sense he has ventured to contradict Article i, Paragraph 3!" This article provides that a League member may withdraw after two years' notice only if "all its international obligations and all its obligations under this Covenant shall have been fulfilled at the time of its withdrawal."

Since Japan flouted its League obligations by puppetizing Manchuria before withdrawing from the League, the inescapable inference from Dr. Hoo's protest, an inference he adroitly left for others to draw, is that Japan cannot pull out of the League. "I deplore M. Avenol's conception of Japan's obligations, a conception which would weaken the Covenant!" cried Dr. Hoo. "Under such a conception any country could violate the Covenant and withdraw with impunity."

As unhappy M. Avenol winced at this shrewd Chinese sting, zzzz came the Japanese League hornet, Consul General Matsayuki Yokoyama, to sting him on the other flank because he had said that Japan no longer has any League "rights." Agreeing that she has no "obligations" Mr. Yokoyama loudly demanded for Japan well-nigh every privilege she has ever enjoyed at Geneva, except actual membership in the Assembly and Council.

"My country will, of course, continue to be represented on the principal League committees," Consul General Yokoyama announced. "The League cannot ignore the existence of Japan as a world power, and especially as a power with the preponderating position in Eastern Asia."

In effect this turned Japan's technical divorcement from the League last week into a day for proclaiming what Japanese jingos call "our Monroe Doctrine for Eastern Asia"--the doctrine that Japan preponderates in its sphere as does the United States in its.

Touching a new high for Japanese arrogance, Mr. Yokoyama next announced that Japan nominates for judgeship in the League of Nations' "World Court" at The Hague onetime Japanese Ambassador to France Haruichi Nagaoka.

"It is, therefore, for the next Assembly of the League to ratify this nomination!" ordered Japan's Consul General.

Meanwhile in Tokyo, Naval Minister Admiral Osumi stated that, of course, Japan will keep the numerous islands in the Pacific Ocean which she received as mandates from the League while a member.

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