Page:League of Nations-Appeal by the Chinese Government.pdf/7



not be violated under the pretext of the existence of lawlessness caused by a state of affairs which it is the very purpose of the resolution to do away with. It is to be observed that much of the lawlessness now prevalent in Manchuria is due to the interruption of normal life caused by the invasion of the Japanese forces. The only sure way of restoring the normal peaceful life is to hasten the withdrawal of the Japanese troops and allow the Chinese authorities to assume the responsibility for the maintenance of peace and order. China cannot tolerate the invasion and occupation of her territory by the troops of any foreign country; far less can she permit these troops to usurp the police functions of the Chinese authorities.

"VI. China notes with satisfaction the purpose to continue and improve the present system of neutral observation and reporting through representatives of other Powers, and China will from time to time, as occasion requires, indicate the localities to which it seems desirable to despatch such representatives.

"VII. It should be understood that, in agreeing to this resolution which provides for the withdrawal of the Japanese forces to the railway zone, China in no way recedes from the position she has always taken with respect to the maintenance of military forces in the said railway zone.

"VIII. China would regard any attempt by Japan to bring about complications of a political character affecting China's territorial or administrative integrity (such as promoting so-called independence movements or utilising disorderly elements for such purposes) as an obvious violation of the undertaking to avoid any further aggravation of the situation."

The Members of the Commission were subsequently selected by the President of the Council, and, after the approval of the two parties had been obtained, the membership was finally approved by the Council on January 14th, 1932, as follows:


 * H.E. Count (Italian),
 * Général de Division Henri (French),
 * The Rt. Hon. The, P.C., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E. (British),
 * Major-General Frank Ross (American),
 * H.E. Dr. Heinrich (German).

The European members, with a representative of the American member, held two sittings in Geneva on January 21st, at which Lord Lytton was unanimously elected Chairman and a provisional programme of work was approved. The Governments of Japan and China, each of which had, by virtue of the resolution of December 10th, "the right to nominate one Assessor to assist the Commission", Subsequently appointed as their Assessors H. E. Mr. Isaburo, Ambassador of Japan in Turkey, and H. E. Dr. Wellington Koo, a former Prime Minister and former Minister for Foreign Affairs of China.

The Secretary-General of the League designated M. Robert, Director in the Secretariat of the League, to act as Secretary-General of the Commission.