THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1931 Oct. 15 From the Minister in China (tel.) Conversations with National Government officials, who inquired as to U. S. Government's attitude on the proposal to invoke the Nine-Power Treaty and on the possibility of its assuming the initiative in the action. 197 Oct. 15 (201) From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 198 Possibility of being invited to sit with the Committee of Five to discuss situation relative to Kellogg Pact; request for instructions. To the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 198 Oct. 15 (93) Oct. 15 (202) Authorization to sit with the Committee of Five solely on discussions pertaining to treaties to which the United States is a party. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Private meeting of the Council in which resolution extending invitation to the United States was adopted with only the dissenting vote of Japan. 199 Oct. 15 From the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Nanking to the 199 Oct. 16 (185) Oct. 16 (204) Chinese Government's instructions to inform the Department that it welcomes American participation in League Council deliberations. From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) Inquiry by Japanese Vice Foreign Minister concerning report that the United States was prepared to have an observer at the League Council meeting; observations that war is not likely, that U. S. policy should be to avoid League entanglements and to assist only in bringing about direct negotiations. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 200 201 Information that Consul has received invitation and will attend next meeting of the Council. Oct. 16 (205) From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 201 Transmittal of the Council's invitation (text printed). [Oct. 16] (207) Oct. 16 (94) From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 202 Acceptance of the Council's invitation (text printed). To the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 203 Oct. 16 Instructions to report to the Department on the results of the Council meetings and to participate only in regard to the possible application of the Kellogg Pact. Memorandum of Trans-Atlantic Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary and Gilbert: Secretary's insistence that the initiative in invoking the Kellogg Pact should be taken in Geneva, especially in view of Japanese objection to U. S. participation in discussions; Gilbert's opinion that although the powers are very solicitous, they will probably not take any definitive action. 203 THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued Date and number 1931 Oct. 16 (95) Oct. 16 (93) Oct. 16 (208) Oct. 16 (780) To the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Subject Approval in principle of Briand's idea (contained in telegram No. 199, October 14) but counsel of caution without the consent of both parties; advice of receipt of Chinese request for U. S. observers to accompany Chinese troops taking over evacuated areas. To the Consul General at Nanking (tel.) Explanation for the Minister, in reply to his telegram of October 15, of the Department's difficulties in answering a hypothetical question in connection with invocation of the Nine-Power Treaty; instructions to urge the advisability of avoiding further aggravation and of settlement by direct negotiations. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Page 207 208 209 Opening statement to the Council (text printed). From the Minister in China (tel.) 210 From Hanson and Salisbury: Report of events and situation at Taonan. Oct. 16 (209) From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 211 Delivery of opening statement to the Council. Memorandum by the Secretary of State of a Conversation With From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Public meeting of the Council with formal debate on the proposed invitation to the United States; Japanese objections on juridical basis and Council's treatment. To the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Emphasis on previous instructions concerning participation in Council discussions only in regard to the Pact, and observation that U. S. purpose in authorizing a representative to sit with the League Council was to enable Geneva to initiate action with obvious U. S. cooperation. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Statements of welcome to American representative (texts printed) by all Council members except Japan and Norway, the latter refraining to save Japan embarrassment. From the Minister in China (tel.) Inquiry whether Department desires independent investi- Information from Japanese representatives in China that 212 213 215 218 218 THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued Date and number 1931 Oct. 17 Oct. 17 (99) Oct. 17 (386) Subject Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State Conversation with the Japanese Ambassador, who was informed of Department's feeling regarding Japanese Foreign Office announcement that two U. S. notes had not been given out for fear of inflaming public opinion; clarification of U. S. position, with explanation that United States did not expect Japan to withdraw completely from Manchuria. To the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Information that Briand and Reading have been informed through their Embassies of Secretary's views on the invocation of the Pact; instructions to remain firm against referring invocation back to Washington; opinion that most efficacious step to preserve peace was the alinement of the United States with the other nations at Geneva. To the Minister in China (tel.) Instructions that Hanson and Salisbury should conclude survey and return to their posts, and that Consul General at Mukden should have a record of their reports and should collect any new information. Oct. 17 (785) From the Minister in China (tel.) Oct. 17 (212) Oct. 17 (213) From Hanson and Salisbury: Report of events and situation at Newchwang, with opinion that Japanese interests there were not endangered and did not need protection by Japanese troops. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Identic telegrams (text printed) to China and Japan invoking the Kellogg Pact, and notification to the press of action taken (text printed); information that French, British, and Italian Foreign Ministers are sending telegram through diplomatic channels and that French Government will notify all signatories of the Pact in the name of France, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, and Spain. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Draft resolution of League Council (text printed) referring to the resolution of September 30, recommending direct negotiations, and indicating Council's willingness, if invited, to nominate neutral persons to assist in negotiations. Page 219 220 221 222 224 225 Oct. 18 (787) From the Minister in China (tel.) 226 Report of Captain Nimmer of Naval Attaché's office (substance printed) of panic at Tsitsihar and tension at Hailar; information that Americans at Tsitsihar have been advised to evacuate. 228 Oct. 18 Oct. 18 (214) From the Minister in China (tel.) Record of interview with Chiang Kai-shek (text printed) being sent in identical form by British, French, and American Ministers; Chiang's declaration that the Japanese General Staff was not susceptible to world public opinion but was taking advantage of world preoccupation with economic crisis to outmaneuver China. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Information that Norway has invoked the Pact. 229 THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued Date and number 1931 Oct. 18 Subject To President Hoover, Aboard the "U. S. S. Arkansas," Hampton Page 230 Oct. 18 Oct. 18 (215) Oct. 18 (217) Oct. 18 (218) Oct. 19 (221) Oct. 19 (222) Transmittal of information concerning the invocation of the Pact in the name of France, Great Britain, Italy, Germany, and Spain. Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State Conversation with the Japanese Ambassador, who stated that Japan was withdrawing objection to Gilbert's sitting in the Council, that Shidehara regretted Foreign Office statement, and that a forthcoming meeting of outstanding men of Japan would have far-reaching influence. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Changes in draft resolution of the Council (texts printed). Note from the Japanese representative to the President of From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Message from Yoshizawa to the Council (text printed) giving information from his Government that Japanese troops have withdrawn from Mukden except for 650 men in the industrial quarters, the Chinese town, and the open town. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Summary of tentative program of action for the Council: public meeting to obtain public explanation by both parties of their intentions and to make more effective any commitments; private negotiations by Briand along the lines of the draft resolution. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 230 231 232 234 235 237 Changes in resolution for final draft (text printed). Oct. 19 (793) From the Minister in China (tel.) 237 From Hanson and Salisbury: Report of events and situation at Antung; opinion that Japanese occupation was not justified and that Japanese residents would not be endangered by withdrawal of the troops. Oct. 19 Oct. 19 Memorandum by the Secretary of State Conversation with Japanese Ambassador, who cited instances of Japanese restoration of business in Manchuria and submitted a memorandum (text printed) of number of foreign warships in China; Secretary's advice that evidence indicated acts of aggression had been committed by Japanese soldiers, but, he believed, without Government authorization. Memorandum of Trans-Atlantic Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary and Gilbert: Desire of the Secretary for formal notification of Pact's invocation and for Gilbert's withdrawal from Council discussions; probable statement by Japanese on juridical objection to U. S. participation, and Gilbert's reply (texts printed). 240 241 THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued Date and number 1931 Oct. 19 (101) To the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Subject Page 248 Oct. 19 Oct. 19 Oct. 19 (223) Instructions to withdraw from Council meetings on grounds that there appears no further reason for attendance; information that this Government still pursues objective of preservation of peace between China and Japan. Memorandum of Trans-Atlantic Telephone Conversation Between Reading and the Secretary: Reading's apprehension that Gilbert's withdrawal would be taken as U. S. disapproval of League action, and disastrous political and financial results would ensue; Secretary's insistence that the action would be a protection of U. S. position against adverse public opinion in United States and against the accentuation of the issue created between the United States and Japan; Secretary's agreement to permit Gilbert to attend one more private meeting and one public meeting in present capacity, and to limit further attendance to public meetings-in an observer's chair. From the Counselor of the British Embassy Message from Reading that Council's intentions have been to follow Secretary's wishes in the matter of U. S. representation on the Council; also not to leave the invocation of the Pact to Washington; expression of continued cooperation. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 248 258 258 Issuance of Briand's reply to Japanese note questioning legal basis for U. S. representation, with conclusion that Council has given serious consideration to Japanese views and has taken no action in contradiction to the Covenant. Oct. 19 (103) To the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 259 Authorization to attend one secret session and to sit at Council table at one public meeting, and thereafter to attend public meetings occupying the seat of an observer. Oct. 19 (104) To the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 260 Advice that U. S. note to China and Japan re Kellogg Pact is being withheld pending receipt of notification of invocation from French Government. Outline of method of procedure being used in negotiations at 260 From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) 262 Foreign Office information that Mukden wireless station will be in operation soon. Oct. 20 (226) From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 262 Understanding that notification of the joint action of invoking the Kellogg Pact has now been sent by France, together with explanation of delay. |