793.94/1958: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Geneva (Gilbert)
63. Your 151, October 1, 10 a.m. Either you or Minister Wilson should inform Drummond confidentially that there proceeded to Manchuria immediately upon outbreak of the trouble there an officer from the Peiping office of the American Military Attaché and another, who was present in China at that time, from the Tokyo office of the American Military Attaché. A similar officer is understood to have gone likewise from the British Legation at Peiping. Reference to their going to Manchuria was not made to Washington for either authorizations or instructions, and the officers are assumed to have acted simply as observers. However, the Department is now instructing the Consul General at Harbin and an Embassy secretary from Tokyo to undertake an observational tour in South Manchuria and to report facts to the Department. This is being done with the knowledge and approval of the Tokyo Government. I feel it to be necessary for me to have information as accurate and as full as can be obtained as to what occurred and as to the unfolding situation. This information should be regarded as confidential pending such time as it is given authorized publicity here.