58 JAPAN MUST FIGHT BRITAIN
the old? That is the immediate and fundamental question;
the answer to be given to it may be of immense importance to the
future stability of the world. That consideration must indeed
take precedence over the merits of the dispute itself.
The Japanese Government has many grievances against
China, and until today has been very patient. But its forces have
taken matters into their own hands, have occupied Manchuria,
and have dropped bombs in many places. These are, clearly,
acts of war, but the Japanese Government denies it and makes
out that the occupation is defensive, and proposes to enter into
direct negotiations with China from the position of vantage it
has obtained. This is nothing more nor less than the old diplomacy.
Such methods were frequently adopted in the nineteenth
century, excited no comment and seemed to have been effective,
but they are directly contrary to the fundamental diplomatic
principles of the recently founded League of Nations and also
to the spirit of the No-War Pact.
If Japan had resorted to the arbitration of the League first,
and then, having failed to gain satisfaction, had taken action,
she would have commanded wide sympathies and could have
turned the convention of the League to her own advantage.
But the action of her soldiers has enabled China to appeal to
the League as an invaded country and has made it necessary
for the League to exert its authority to the full in order to effect
a peaceful solution. Should the League fail in this, it will lose
its power and the new diplomacy will be shaken to its foundations !
(16/10/31.)
Mr. Matsuoka, the Japanese delegate, referred to the con-
fusion that reigns in China and pointed to the fact that her
Government is one in name only. But this state of affairs is not
new, it obtained at the time of the Washington Conference, and
was taken into consideration by the Powers concerned. The
Nine Power Treaty was made to maintain the territorial integrity
of a China that was in that condition and to prevent other
countries from taking advantage of its weakness.
Japan is censured because, disregarding this Treaty, she has
occupied a large tract of Chinese territory by military force and
has declared it independent. Actions such as these are beyond
question contrary to both the letter and spirit of the Covenant
of the League of Nations and the No-War Pact. In each of the
above-mentioned three Treaties, Japan agreed to co-operate
with the other Powers in regard to China and to submit disputes
with her to arbitration. But the action taken by the Japanese
forces in September of the year before last did not conform to
this agreement.