Show BRITAIN READY TO COOPERATE IE IN EAST CRISIS Will Take Part in Any Action Decided Upon by U. U S. S League of Nations m By Dy United Press LONDON Feb 23 23 Great Great lt Britain's far east policy will wm be to cooperate with the United States and the league of ot nations in whatever action may be agreed upon according to Sir John Simon foreign secretary Simon presented Great Britain's official of of- tidal stand in a statement last night before the thc house of commons He said England is convinced that affirmation affirmation mation of the principles of the league of nations with boldness and arid sincerity sincerity sincer sincer- ity Sty is essential to a a solution of the Sino Japanese question Simons Simon's statement was in reply to the insistence of George Lansbury labor leader that the leal league uc quickly action I decide on some appropriate Lansbury mentioned the possibility I of economic me measures or withdrawal 31 of ambassadors to halt the fighting The foreign secretary declared that thai as far fat as he knew he could absolutely contradict the widespread belief reported reported re re- ported by Lansbury that a secret compact existed between Japan and any other power in re regard ard to thc the Chinese situation The Thc British press has carried ried reports of a secret Japa Japa- soviet nese treat treaty and the American press has discussed Japanese understandings understandings under under- standings with England and France Simons Simon's statement was made after Prime l' l Minister J. J Ramsay MacDonald MacDon MacDon- aid ald had conferred red with King George Georgc at Buckingham palace and after it had been announced that no steps for resumption of peace negotiations were contemplated TOKIO Feb Fob 23 The Thc The Japanese governments government's reply to the note of the league of nations council of February 16 was telegraphed to Geneva today acting president president president to Joseph Paul Paul dent of the council It declared It U must be emphasized that the Japanese government docs does not and cannot consider consider consider con con- sider that China is an organized people peo pea pIe within the meaning of the league of nations covenant Declaring that China in the past by common consent has been treated as an organized state the Japanese note said that fictions cannot last forever nor can they be tolerated when they become grave sources of practical danger The Thc time has bas inevitably come corne the reply added when realities re rather than fictions must be reckoned with If U Japan had no interests there it might be possible to continue indefinitely indefinitely respecting the fiction that the region is occupied by an people Japan however has enormous enormous enor enor- interests there and arid it is impossible impossible sible longer to treat the thc chaos in China as if it were order The Thc Japanese government does not pretend it is easy to work out the implications and consequences ol at this situation It is not easy casy but it Is necessary We must face the facts and the thc fundamental fact is that there is no unified unWed control in China and no authority entitled to claim entire controL controL con- con |