793.95/4589b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham)
71. To the Minister: Department’s 60 of February 29, 4 p.m.; 65 of March 1, 11 p.m.; and 66 of March 1, 12 p.m.36 With regard to the round-table conferences which under the recent suggestion of the League of Nations are now in prospect. Until you receive further instructions, I do not wish to have either you or any civil or military representative of this Government participate in them. In my opinion, the situation has been obscured by the fact that the Japanese have carried through a major offensive after having initiated this movement for a conference and having accepted the proposals of the Council of the League. Consequently, until I am more clear as to what will be proposed there I do not wish to participate in the conference. I do not desire, as I have indicated in my previous instructions referred to above, to be drawn into proposals which will appear unfair to China or as an endorsement of Japan’s position.
- None printed.↩