C , 8 7 4 M. , 4 5 0 . 1 9 3 1 . V I I .
LEAGUE 0F NATIONS
C om m unicated t o
C o u n c i l and t h e
the
Members
P a r i s , November 1 8 t h , 1931.
of the League.
APPEAL FROM THE CHINESE GOVERKIIMT UNDER
ARTICLE 11 OF THE COVENANT.
L e t t e r from t h e R e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f China on t h e Co u n c i l .
N o t e by t he S e e r t a r y - G e n e r a l »
At t h e r e q u e s t o f t h e C hinese R e p r e s e n t a t i v e t h e
S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l h a s t h e honour t o c i r c u l a t e to t h e C o u n c i l t h e
following l e t t e r .
P a r i s , November 1 8 t h , 1931.
Tc the S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l .
Sir,
I e n c l o s e h e r e w i t h a s t a t e m e n t by t h e F o u r t h N a t i o n a l
Congress o f t h e Kuomintang P a r t y c o n c e r n i n g t h e S i n o - J a p a n e s e
conflict.
As you know, t h e Kuomintang P a r t y i s t h e body from
which the v a r i o u s o r g a n s o f the Government u l t i m a t e l y d e r i v e
their a u t h o r i t y .
T his s t a t e m e n t i s t h e r e f o r e en a u t h o r i t a t i v e
exposition, i n a calm and d i g n i f i e d form, c f the tem per o f t h e
Chinese p e o p l e , w i t h w hic h my Government must r e c k o n .
As you w i l l s e e , i t i s a b s o l u t e l y i m p o s s i b l e f o r any
Government i n C h in a, i n any c i r c u m s t a n c e s to a c c e p t a s e t t l e ­
ment t h a t i n v o l v e s d i r e c t n e g o t i a t i o n s on t h e f i v e p o i n t s
under the p r e s s u r e o f m i l i t a r y o c c u p a t i o n , i n w h a te v e r
form t h i s p r o p o s a l i s d i s g u i s e d . We c a n n o t a c c e p t i t f o r two
reasons.
I n t h e f i r s t p l a c e b e c a u s e t h e f i f t h p o i n t has
nothing t o do w i t h s e c u r i t y , and a l l t h e p o i n t s t o g e t h e r would
swiftly grow i n t o a p o l i t i c a l and economic programme f o r
e s t a b l i s h i n g a J a p a n e s e p r o t e c t o r a t e of M an ch u ria i f
n e g otiations on them were i n any way l i n k e d up w i t h e v a c u a t i o n .
I n t h e second p l a c e b e c a u s e we w i l l n o t and c a n n o t
accept t h e p o s i t i o n t h a t we should r e s i g n t h e t w e n t y - o n e
demands as a c o n d i t i o n f o r J a p a n f u l f i l l i n g h e r t r e a t y
^ l i g a t i o n s u n d e r t h e Covenant and th o P a r i s P a c t .
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2
-
For two months t h e C ouncil has been la b o u r in g to
reach an e q u i t a b l e compromise under A r t i c l e XI. No'com­
promise which made e v a c u a tio n c o n d i t i o n a l upon d i r e c t
n e g o t i a t i o n s on th e f i v e p o i n t s would be e q u i t a b l e . I f
such a p r o p o s a l i s put to u s, we s h a l l n o t o n ly r e j e c t i t
but quote in a p u b lic m eeting what M. Briand and o th er
Members o f the C ouncil have s a i d on th e i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f
r e c o n c i li n g n e g o t i a t i o n under m i l i t a r y p r e s s u r e w it h the
Covenant and the P a r i s P a c t , and p r e s s fo r a public
explan ation o f the rea so n s t h a t have l e d them to change
th e ir view. I f th e C ouncil d e c la r e d i t co u ld do no more
under A r t i c l e XI we sh ou ld not sh r in k from immediately
invoking o t h e r A r t i c l e s o f the Covenant.
This i s a l i f e and death i s s u e f o r the Chinese
Government which has sta k e d i t s p o l i t i c a l e x i s t e n c e on the
p o lic y o f r e l y i n g on th e League. I t i s t h e r e f o r e bcund to
push t h i s p o l i c y to i t s c o n c l u s io n and t e s t the competence
of the League to the utm ost. I f the League f a i l s , th e
Chinese Government w i l l be fo r c e d to jhut the blame p u b l i c l y
where i t b e l o n g s , namely, ?n the u n w i l l i n g n e s s o f t h e
Great Powers to l i f t a f i n g e r i n d efen ce o f the Covenant
which t h e y are solem nly pledged to d e fe n d . The m atter i s th e r e ­
fore a l s o a l i f e and death i s s u e f o r the League and for
the Disarmament C on feren ce.
The temper o f the Chinese p e o p le i s r a p id ly
hardening and t h e i r p a t i e n c e i s becoming e x h a u sté d . The
s i t u a t i o n i n my view i s e x trem ely g r a v e .
(S ign ed )
SAO-KE ALFRED SZE.
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3
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ANNEXo
STATEMENT OF THE FOURTH NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE KUOMINTANG PARTY
"
CPNCERNING JAPANESE AGGRESSIONS IN CHINA„
"The f o u r t h N a tio n a l Congress o f the Kuomintang P a r ty o f
China views the grave s i t u a t i o n produced by the a c t s o f d e l i b e r a t e
aggression on t h e p art o f Japan not only as a m atter a f f e c t i n g her
n a t i o n a l e x i s t e n c e b u t a l s o as o f g r e a t concern to t h e s a f e t y o f
hum anity.
Japan’ s conduct i s c l e a r l y a v i o l a t i o n o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l
law, the Covenant o f the League o f N a t io n s , She Anti-War P act and
the'Nine-Power T rea ty , and an in fr in g e m e n t o f the Chinese t e r r i ­
torial s o v e r e i g n t y and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e i n t e g r i t y as w e l l as con­
st itu t in g a menace to t h e peace o f n a t i o n s . The Congress t h e r e ­
fore d ecid es to i s s u e the f o l l o w i n g statem en t as an e x p r e s s io n o f
the determined w i l l o f the whole Kuomintang as w e l l as o f the
entire Chinese N a tio n :
n0n the e i g h t e e n t h o f September Japanese troop s a tta c k e d
and took Shenyang (Mukden) and s u c c e s s i v e l y occu p ied n e a r l y a l l
other important c i t i e s i n t h e L iaon ing ( the P rovin ce o f which
Mukden i s i t s c a p i t a l ) and K ir in P r o v i n c e s . I t i s alm ost two
months s i n c e , at the very b e g in n in g , China subm itted t h i s e x t r a ­
ordinary c a s e o f m i l i t a r y a g g r e s s io n to the League o f N a tio n s in
the b e l i e f th a t the in stru m en ts d esig n ed fo r the p r e s e r v a t i o n o f
international peace would prove e f f e c t i v e and j u s t i c e i n the end
prevail,
"On September t h i r t i e t h t h e C ouncil o f the League o f
Nations unanimously p a s s e d a r e s o l u t i o n c a l l i n g upon Japan t o w it h ­
draw h e r trocpS; i t b e i n g understood such withdrawal was to be com­
pleted b e fo r e t h e f o u r t e e n t h o f October when the League C ouncil was
to meet a g a i n i n c a s e o f n e c e s s i t y ,
T his r e s o l u t i o n was o f f i c i a l l y
accepted by t h e J a p a n e s e D e l e g a t e i n a formal d e c l a r a t i o n . While
uhe Chinese Government e x e r te d i t s utmost during t h i s p e r i o d to
carry uut t h e C ouncil r e s o l u t i o n by s c r u p u lo u s ly adhering t o a
policy o f p e a c e and by g i v i n g f u l l p r o t e c t i o n to Japanese n a t i o n a l s
so t h a t no u n f o r t u n a t e i n c i d e n t s would happen tu them, t h e Japanese
troops, on t h e o t h e r h a n d , not o n ly did n o t show any s i g n o f w i t h ­
drawal b u t , on t h e c o n t r a r y , bombarded Chinchow by a i r , wrecked
part uf t h e Peking-Mukden r a ilw a y , extended t h e i r m i l i t a r y
occupation, and t h r e a t e n e d t h e C h in es e c o a s t s and in la n d w a te r s
■with a l a r g e number o f v e s s e l s , In order to c o p e w ith the unusually
grave s i t u a t i o n - t h e C o u n c il c a l l e d t h e emergency m e e tin g o f October
th irteen th » On O c to b e r t w e n t y - f o u r t h a r e s o l u t i o n was adopted by
all the Members o f t h e C o u n c i l e x c e p t Japan p r o v id in g i n unmis­
take able berms t h a t J a p a n s h o u l d com plete the w ithdraw al o f her
troops b e f o r e November 1.6th and t h a t China sh o u ld ta k e o v er al 1 th e
t e r r i t o r y u n l a w f u l l y o c c u p i e d by J a p a n e s e t r o o p s . The Chinese
Government r e s p e c t s the R e s o l u t i o n , Conformably w ith i t s pro­
visions , China h a s a p p o i n t e d a com m ittee to ta k e o ver the a reas to
be evacuated and n o t i f i e d t h e Japanese Government o f t h i s a p p o in t­
ment o Meanwhile, she i s making e v e r y e f f o r t to perform a l l her
other o b l i g a t i o n s a r i s i n g from t h e R e s o l u t i o n . B e s i d e s , n e u t r a l
observers a r e u n d e r s t o o d to have a J ready been s e l e c t e d by the Ibwers.
"Japarj however, a g a i n rem ains o b l i v i o u s o f th e C ouncil
resolution and p e r p e t u a t e s a l l k i n d s o f a c ts o f d e s t r u c t i o n and
Obstruction w i t h t h e r e s u l t t h a t the Peace which China and the
owers are e x e r t i n g t h e i r c o n c e r t e d e f f o r t s t o promote cannot be
."ally r e a l i s e d <. Mr, B r i a n d , P r e s i d e n t o f t h e League C o u n c il , h a s,
jowever, c a l l e d h e r a t t e n t i o n t o t h e f a c t t h a t , w h ile th e C ouncil
-^solution o f O c to b e r 2 4 th had a l l “ he moral e f f e c t , t h a t o f
~e?t ember t h i r t i e t h had f u l l y e x e c u t o r y f o r c e , and t h a t Japan, i n
S e e i n g t o t h e r e s o l u t i o n o f Septem ber t h i r t i e t h , had not s t a t e d
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4
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^at the t r e a t y r i g h t s o f Japan i n M anchuria were i n any way
w it h t h e s a f e t y o f l i v e s and p r o p e r t y of J a p a n e s e
nationals. He c a l l e d upon Ja p a n t o f u l f i l i t s u n d e r t a k i n g s so l e m n l y
c o n t r a c t e d u n d e r t h e R e s o l u t i o n o f Septem ber t h i r t i e t h and r e p e a t e d l y
confirmed by d e c l a r a t i o n s d u r i n g t h e l a s t s e s s i o n o f the C o u n c il and
to continue as r a p i d l y a s p o s s i b l e the w ithdraw al c f h e r t r o o p s tp
the railw ay zone.
connected
" J a p a n , h o w e v e r , h as n o t o n l y f a i l e d t o withdraw h e r t r o o p s ,
'but has c o n s t a n t l y i n c r e a s e d t h e i r num ber.
They have o c c u p i e d
Taonan and o t h e r p l a c e s , r e p e a t e d l y a t t e m p t e d to in v a d e T u n g li a o and
a t t a c k e d t h e C h in es e t r o o p s i n t h e Ncnni ' B r i d g e d i s t r i c t w it h t h e
d e c l a r e d i n t e n t i o n o f s e i z i n g T s i t s i h a r , t h e c a p i t a l of H e i l u n g k i a n g
•province.
They have made u se o f b a n d i t s and m o n a r c h i s t s i n th e
Liaoning and K i r i n P r o v i n c e s f o r o r g a n i s i n g u n l a w f u l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s
and f u r t h e r i n g t h e s o - c a l l e d In d e p e n d e n c e movement, t h e r e b y com­
plicating t h e t a s k o f China when she comes t o t a k e o v e r t h e o c c u p i e d
t e r r i t o r i e s . M oreover, t h e J a p a n e s e m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s , by
ppropriating t h e s a l t r e v e n u e i n Yinkow (Newchwang) and Changchun,
directly i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e f i s c a l sy s tem o f China and i n d i r e c t l y
prejudice C h i n a ’ s a b i l i t y t o meet h e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l f i n a n c i a l
bligations.
"On November e i g h t h and t h e s u c c e e d i n g d a y s , o r g a n i s e d mobs
ere s u p p lie d w i t h arms i n t h e J a p a n e s e C o n c e s s i o n a t T i e n t s i n and
e m it te d to s a l l y f o r t h from t h e C o n c e s s i o n t o a t t a c k t h e p o l i c e
tations and o t h e r C hin ese a d m i n i s t r a t i v e o f f i c e s . A g r e a t number
f gun-shots were f i r e d from t h e J a p a n e s e b a r r a c k s i n t o t h e t e r r i t o r y
nder Chinese c o n t r o l . These are f a c t s known t o a l l the f o r e i g n
^/tionals i n T i e n t s i n and can be p r o v e d by exp lo d ed s h e l l s , s e i z e d
rms and o t h e r e v i d e n c e s .
"Such a c t s o f u n d e c l a r e d war a r e s i n g u l a r l y v i c i o u s a i d
eldcm witnessed e l s e w h e r e i n t h e w o rld .
They n o t o n l y v i o l a t e i n t e r ­
national law and i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r e a t i e s , but c o n s t i t u t e i n p a r t i c u l a r
direct c h a l l e n g e t o c i v i l i s a t i o n and hu m an ity as w e ll a s t o t h e
anctity o f t h e Covenant o f the League of N a t i o n s , t h e T r e a t y f o r
he R e n u n c ia tio n o f War, and t h e N ine-P ow er T r e a t y s i g n e d a t
Washington i n 1922.
"Under t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , Jap an p u t t i n g f o r w a r d t h e f i v e
0-cailed f u n d a m e n ta l p r i n c i p l e s i n s i s t s t h a t China s h o u l d a g r e e t o
nter i n t o d i r e c t n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h J a p a n b e f o r e withdrawal o f t r o o p s
3 e ffected . I t i s e v id e n t t h a t Japan d e s ire s through th e p re s su re
- m i l i t a r y o c c u p a t i o n t o c o e r c e China i n t o a c c e p t i n g h e r demands.
" M o reo v er, as r e g a r d s t h e s o - c a l l e d t r e a t y r i g h t s which
"pan has been a d v o c a t i n g b e f o r e t h e n a t i o n s w i t h s p e c i o u s a r g u m e n ts ,
he peiple o f C h i n a , i n t h e l i g h t o f J a p a n ' s c o n d u c t s i n c e S eptem ber
ighteenth, c annut b u t e n t e r t a i n pro fo u n d d o u b t s on t h e f o l l o w i n g
1-ve p o in ts :
(1) Does t h e Covenant of the League o f N a t i o n s p o s s e s s
ni' valid f u r c e ? S h ould J a p a n be a l l o w e d to d e f y o p e n l y t h e Reso■j-ions of t h e C o u n c il i n d i s r e g a r d o f the p r o v i s i o n s o f the
tenant? Should n o t t h e League, by v i r t u e o f A r t i c l e s 15 and 16 o f
ae Covenant, c h eck e f f e c t i v e l y t h e a c t s o f Japan?
(2) I s t h e t r e a t y f o r t h e Runanc i a t i o n o f War v a l i . d a t a l l ?
v do Japanese t r o o p s p u b l i c l y a t t a c k C h in e s e t r o o p s w i t h o u t c a u s e
;;;_Jhy i s J a p a n w i t h i m p u n i t y p e r m i t t e d by f l a g r a n t use o f f o r c e to
• -secute h e r na tm o n a l p o l i c y o f a g g r e s s i o n ? Should n o t s t e p s be
en immediately t o r e c t i f y h e r c o u r s e ?
:
(3) I s t h e N in e-Pow er T r e a t y s t i l l v a l i d ? Why i s Jap an
to i m p a i r t h e s o v e r e i g n t y , in d e p e n d e n c e and t e r r i t o r i a l and
; - - à s t r a t i v e i n t e g r i t y o f C h i n a , and s h o u ld n o t c o n c e r t e d a c t i o n
-&ken t o remedy t h e s i t u a t i o n ?
(4) Are n o t t h e p r i v i l e g e s o f the c o n c e s s i o n s w i t h i n
■inese t e r r i t o r y e n j o y e d by J a p a n i n China by v i r t u e o f t r e a t i e s
B a i t e d to t h e p e a c e f u l trad-, and r e s i d e n c e o f h e r n a t i o n a l s ?
Is
Ken p e r m i t t e d by t r e a t i e s to abuse t h e p o s i t i o n o f h e r conI s s i o n a t T i e n t s i n by making i t a b a s e o f o p e r a t i o n s f o r i n t r i g u I £ against the s a f e t y o f China?
(5) Docs n o t J a p a n ' s s e i z u r e o f t h e C h in e s e s a l t r e v e n u e
Inn which many o f C h i n a ' s f o r e i g n l o a n s arc s e c u r e d , a t once
I n s t i t u t e a d i r e c t im pairm ent o f t h e f i n a n c i a l s y s te m o f t h e
l i n e s g Gov-riraent and a s e r i o u s impediment t o C h i n a ’ s m e e tin g
fcr f i n a n c i a l o b l i g a t i o n s t n e t h e r Powers?
" I n t h u s demanding of' China u n i l a t e r a l o b s e r v a n c e o f
Ipan’s s o - c a l l e d t r e a t y r i g h t s and h e r s e l f d i s r e g a r d i n g t r e a t i e s
I witnessed i n h e r r e p e a t e d a c t s o f b r e a c h , J a p a n m ust b e a r t h e
I s p e n s b i l i t y f o r d i s t u r b i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l p e a c e and u n d e rm in in g
I v " s a n c t it y
of t r e a t i e s .
H o t ; t h a t the C o u n c i l o f t h e League o f
Etions i s g o in g to m eet a g a i n , t h e C o n g r e s s , i n view o f the
■eve-mentioned q u e s t i o n s ,
e a rn e s tly i n v i t e s the a t t e n t i o n of
le Members o f t h e League o f N a t i o n s and t h e S i g n a t o r y Powers of
E- Anti-War P a c t and t h e Washington L in e - P o w e r T r e a t y t o the
lot that Jap an h a s s i n c e Septem ber e i g h t e e n t h lo n g l o o k e d upon
Eese i n t e r n a t i o n a l a g r e e m e n ts a s mere s c r a p s o f p a p e r . She has
Itually v i o l a t e d t h e t e r r i t o r i a l s o v e r e i g n t y o f China and
Is'vrted to t h e use o f f o r c e w i t h o u t any j u s t i f i c a t i o n .
The Conï û s s holds r e s o l u t e l y t h a t t h e N a t i o n a l Government o f China
Biall employ e v e r y r e s o u r c e of t h e n a t i o n t o p r e s e r v e C h i n a ’ s
I r r i t o r y and s o v e r e i g n t y i n t a c t , At t h e same tim e , t h e C ongress
Irvently hopes and i s c o n f i d e n t t h a t , a t i t s f o r t h c o m i n g m e e t i n g ,
Tie Council o f t h e League o f N a t i o n s w i l l a c t u p o n t h e p r o v i s i o n s
c:'Article 15 and 16 o f t h e League Covenant so as t o p u t an
Efcetive and immediate s t o p t o J a p a n ’ s a g g r e s s i v e a c t i v i t i e s a id
jiat a l l the S i g n a t o r i e s of the A nti-W ar F a c t and t h e Nine-Power
conty of Washington w i l l f u l f i l t h e i r solemn o b l i g a t i o n s a r i s i n g
Bercfrom so t h a t the- p e a c e o f t h e world i n g e n e r a l and t h a t i n
■«g Far Hast i n p a r t i c u l a r w i l l n o t be t r a m p l e d down by m i l i t a r i s m »
F-d humanity w i l l n o t be t r a - p l e d down by m i l i t a r y and t h a t t h e
agnity of the League o f N a t i o n s a s w e l l a s t h e s a n c t i t y o f i n t e i rtional t r e a t i e s w i l l n o t be- v i o l a t e d .
Ja p a n h as f o i n e a r l y two
Inths occupied t h e t h r e e N o r t h - E a s t e r n P r o v i n c e s by m i l i t e r / f o r c e .
Iiina's p a t i e n c e h a s a l r e a d y b e e n t a x e d to t h e l i m i t . Should
[Pan p e r s i s t i n d e f y i n g the j u s t and r i g h t e o u s o p i n i o n o f the
Vguo o f N a t i o n s and s h o u l d t h e League o f N a t i o n s as w e l l a s the
rious f r i e n d l y Powers f i n d t h e m s e l v e s u n a b l e to c a r r y o u t t h e i r
'crcd t r e a t y o b l i g a t i o n s , the C hinese p e o p l e , i n o r d e r t o m a i n t a i n
É-G s a n c t it y o f t h e League C ovenant, t h e A n t i War P a c t and t h e
|.Ge--Power T r e a t y o f W ashington, and i n d e f e n c e of t h e i r n a t i o n a l
Fistencc, w i l l do t h e i r b e s t t o p e r f o r m t h e i r d u t y w h a te v e r
* - --ice may be i n v o l v e d . F c r s e l f - d e f e n c e i s n o t o n l y a n a t u r a l
• ':-t of every i n d e p e n d e n t n a t i o n , b u t a l s o a l e g a l r i g h t to which
l^ina is e n t i t l e d u n d e r i n t e r n e t i o n a l law.
"The C on g ress t h e r e f o r e f e e l s i n d u t y bound t o l e a d t h e
Fie n a t io n f o r w a r d t o s t r u g g l e t o t h e v e r y l a s t i n o r d e r t o
e‘Ivguard t h e c a u s e o f j u s t i c e r a t h e r t h a n y i e l d t o f o r c e , and t h u s
. f u l f i l o u r s a c r e d d u t y as a S i g n a t o r y Power o f the aboverationed i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r e a t i e s . "
"(Signed)
S e c r e t a r i a t Kuomintang P a r t y ,
N anking, November 1 6 t h , 1 9 3 1 ."