from his Government. With respect to the accuracy of his own statements regarding the cause of the incidents as questioned by the representative of Japan, he declared that China was quite willing to submit to an inquiry to be carried out by a commission appointed by the League and to leave the entire matter in the hands of an impartial commission. In respect of the case of alleged murder of Nakamura and other cases as being brought forward by Japan as the causes leading to the present incident, he declared they were quite irrelevant, as there are diplomatic and juridical means provided for the settlement of such questions. As to the contention of the Japanese that their recent measures were defensive, he stated that that was not an excuse which could be accepted by the Council, as on previous occasions the Council had clearly specified that no nation could use defensive measures as excuses in such case and that this view had been indorsed by the representative of Japan who was on the Council at the time. In this he referred to the minutes of the 36th extraordinary session of the Council in October, 1925, pages 1699-1709.40 With reference to the statement by the Japanese delegate that the Chinese had proposed direct negotiations, he denied this by implication declaring that China would not enter into diplomatic negotiations when a large portion of her territory was under military occupation by another country and further, when that very country had already resorted to means other than diplomatic measures. With reference to the Japanese delegate's question whether this matter was within the competence of the Council, he declared that he did not think that there was the least doubt on that score, inasmuch as cases of a far less serious nature had previously been taken up, examined and adjusted by the Council. Japan. Yoshizawa, referring to Sze's contention that he was not acting under instructions from his Government and the information which he furnished was his own, clarified this point by saying that he meant only that he had not received instructions from Tokyo as to the policy he was to follow but that the information he had submitted came from his Government. With reference to Sze's statement that communications had been cut off from Manchuria, [Yoshizawa?] had asserted that the first news regarding the incidents in question had come from Peiping and that he inferred that the telegram from Peiping was based upon information transmitted from Manchuria. Later telegrams appearing day after day in the press he believed to have been supplied by Chinese reporters Manchuria. Thus, although he did not assert that communications in Manchuria were intact, he thought it incorrect to say that information from Manchuria was *Printed in League of Nations, Official Journal, November 1925. meager. He also, with reference to Sze's statement that the Japanese position was that the consideration of the question did not come within the competence of the Council, stated that what he had meant was that the incident was one which might be settled by means of direct negotiations between the two Governments. He added that he had reason to believe that the Chinese Government was also inclined to settle the question in that manner, inasmuch as he had received official information from his Government that a high official of the National Government at Nanking had spoken to the Japanese Minister to that effect. He added that according to the latest telegrams received, his Government was ready to accept this proposal though he had not yet been informed whether the answer had yet been communicated to the Government of China in that sense. He declared to the Council, however, that his Government was ready to accept this suggestion. China. Sze, referring to statements which the Japanese representative had said were made by a Chinese official looking to direct negotiations, would point out that at the present moment no direct negotiations were in progress. He implied that if such statements were made on the part of a Chinese official, they were unfounded. He repeated that speaking for his Government the case was left to the Council. Japan. The Japanese delegate contented himself by saying that the Chinese official to whom he referred as making suggestions to the Japanese Minister looking to direct negotiations, was one holding one of the most important portfolios in the Chinese Government and that after mature consideration the Japanese Government is inclined to express its agreement with the suggestions made by this very responsible official. GILBERT 793.94/1811: Telegram The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State GENEVA, September 22, 1931-8 p. m. [Received September 23-9:25 a. m.] 125. Consulate's No. 124, September 22, 7 p. m. The afternoon session of the Council was delayed one hour later than anticipated due to difficulty in arriving at previous agreement concerning the terms of the resolution quoted in the Consulate's No. 123, September 22, 6 p. m. The Japanese delegate spoke first giving assurance of the purpose of Japan to remain faithful to the terms of its international engagements under the Covenant and the Kellogg Pact. He reiterated briefly the statements which he had made in the morning concerning the tense situation leading up to the conflict. The Chinese delegate followed with a statement emphasizing China's peaceable intentions and referred to further telegrams which he had received from his Government indicating that the situation was becoming worse and worse every hour and that acts of a revolting character were being perpetrated by Japanese troops. He urged the Council to send a commission of inquiry to the spot at the earliest moment and insisted that the element of time was essential in a situation of this character especially in view of the information he had received to the effect that the extent of the occupation of Chinese territory had not diminished but was being extended. The President of the Council then requested authorization to take the steps indicated in the Consulate's No. 123, September 22, 6 p. m. The delegates of Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Great Britain, Panama, and Norway then spoke expressing approval of the action suggested by the President but stressed the fact that it constitutes only a preliminary step which must be followed up by other measures intended to achieve a final settlement. There is no difference of emphasis on the responsibility of the Council and the necessity of safeguarding its authority. The Chinese delegate accepted this procedure as a provisional measure although it did not get as far as he desired and expressed the hope and expectation that this would be followed by such other acts of the Council as the circumstances demanded. He urged that the next meeting of the Council to consider further measures should take place as soon as possible and suggested an examination of the whole situation "under the auspices of and the control of the League of Nations." The Japanese delegate assented to the resolution and stated that with respect to the next meeting of the Council to consider this matter he could not indicate more fully than he had already done the attitude and policy of his Government until after he had received instructions from the latter. GILBERT 793.94/1839: Telegram The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State GENEVA, September 22, 1931-9 p. m. [Received 9:45 p. m.] 126. At the end of the Council's session this afternoon the President of the Council, the representative of Spain, asked if some of his colleagues would meet with him to consider certain steps which might be taken in the present situation. In conformity with this request the President met with the representatives of Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan and China. While this group was not formally constituted as a Council committee it is in effect a committee. [Paraphrase.] It is learned from confidential sources that the discussion centered chiefly on the advisability of sending to the disturbed area an investigation commission of military officers to report on the factual situation; that agreement with this course was expressed by the Chinese representative; but that time to query his Government was asked by the Japanese representative. Now apparently the committee is waiting for a Japanese reply. It is currently rumored that the committee also discussed the question of an invitation to the United States to take part in this investigating commission and that this course was favored by a majority of the committee members. [End paraphrase.] GILBERT 793.94/1833: Telegram The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State GENEVA, September 22, 1931-9 p. m. [Received 9:15 p. m.] 127. Consulate's 123, September 22, 6 p. m. The text of identic telegrams despatched today by the President of the Council to the Governments of China and Japan is as follows: 41 "I have the honor to inform you that the Council of the League of Nations in its session today devoted to the appeal of the Chinese Government based on article 11 of the Covenant with regard to the situation in Manchuria has authorized me unanimously, (1) To address an urgent appeal to the Governments of China and of Japan to abstain from any action calculated to endanger the situation or to prejudice the pacific settlement of the problem. (2) To promulgate, in consultation with the Chinese and Japanese representatives, adequate means to compel [enable?] both countries to proceed immediately to the withdrawal of their respective forces without compromising the security of their nationals and the protection of their belongings. (3) The Council has furthermore decided to transmit, for purposes of information, the minutes of all the meetings of the Council and the documents concerning this affair to the Government of the United States of America. I hold the firm conviction that in response to the appeal that the Council has authorized me to address to you, your Government will take all necessary measures in order that no action susceptible of endangering the situation or of prejudicing the pacific settlement thereof may be taken. Furthermore, I shall begin the consultations foreseen with the representatives of Japan and China for the execution of paragraph (2). I have consulted on the decision taken in paragraph (3) with the representatives of Germany, Great Britain, France and Italy." GILBERT "For official English text, see Senate Document No. 55, 72d Cong., 1st sess.: Conditions in Manchuria (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1932), p. 4. 793.94/1831: Telegram The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State [Paraphrase] GENEVA, September 22, 1931-11 p. m. [Received September 22-9:52 p. m.] 156. Reference Consulate's 126 and 127, September 22, 9 p. m. After the Council's small committee meeting, I was asked by Drummond to call, and he stated that the committee had authorized him to inform me that it was contemplating sending to Manchuria an investigating body made up of military and/or civilian members as observers. The Chinese representative has given his consent, while the Japanese representative has made objections; however, he will press his Government for instructions. Drummond says the investigation will in any case be undertaken, if necessary under the authorization of China alone, the sovereign in Manchuria. The small committee also discussed some action through identic or similar notes, though this was felt to be perhaps premature, because of the imperfect knowledge of the facts and of the uncertainty regarding cooperation by the United States. It is earnestly desired by Drummond that you give me any expression of opinion you can and as urgently as possible by cable or telephone as to whether, if invited, the United States can consider cooperating in the action contemplated in either of the paragraphs above. The Council is impressed profoundly with the urgency and the seriousness of the situation. Never have I seen here a situation so tense or in which American cooperation is desired so earnestly. WILSON 793.94/1940 The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Nanking to the Chinese Legation 41a [NANKING,] September 22, 1931. Today's Rengo report from Tokyo stating that the Japanese Government has decided to accept the Chinese Government's formal proposal for the formation of a Sino-Japanese Joint Investigation Committee is not true. The Chinese Government has never made such a proposal, formal or informal. Copy of telegram handed by the Chinese Chargé to Mr. Ransford S. Miller of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs, September 23. 587122-46—VOL. II-10 |