793.94/4493: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 29—8:10 p.m.]
46. Following letter received from Drummond31 dated February 29th:
“I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of a communication made by the President of the Council to his colleagues32 setting out certain proposals which the Chinese and Japanese representatives have promised to submit immediately and to recommend to their governments with a view to bringing about the restoration of peaceful conditions in the Shanghai area.
May I be allowed to call your special attention to the request made in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the communication for the collaboration of the United States Government in the steps which the Council proposed in order to effect the above-mentioned aims?”
The text of the communication enclosed with Drummond’s letter is being telegraphed by Gilbert in his 92, February 29, 7 p.m.33
My reply to Drummond, which I read to you over the telephone, is as follows:
“In reply to your letter of today’s date in which you inform me of the proposal made by the Council (which the Chinese and Japanese representatives have promised to transmit immediately to their respective Governments) concerning a conference for the restoration of peace within the Shanghai area, and the negotiations now going on toward the immediate cessation of hostilities in that zone, I have to inform you that the Government of the United States is happy to associate itself with this effort for the reestablishment of peace.
My Government will instruct its representatives in Shanghai, in the event that this offer is acceptable to the Chinese and Japanese Governments, to cooperate with the representatives of the other powers.”
Drummond gave immediate publicity to this exchange of letters.