793.94/2107a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Geneva (Gilbert)
88. In response to your telephonic request, I authorize you, if you are invited to take part in the Council’s discussions, to make an opening statement of your position as follows:44 [Page 185]
“I thank you for your invitation, at this moment of deep international concern, to sit in your deliberations and participate in your discussions as far as the Pact of Paris, to which my country is a party, is concerned. My country does not seek to intrude into or express any opinion in respect to such measures as you have under consideration as representatives of the League of Nations. Acting independently and through diplomatic channels my Government has already sought to signify its approval and moral support of your effort in this capacity to bring about a peaceful solution of the unfortunate controversy in Manchuria. In your deliberations as to the application of the machinery of the Covenant of the League of Nations we can, of course, take no part.
But the Pact of Paris, bearing as it does the signature of the President of this meeting together with that of our former Secretary of State as joint proponents, represents to us in America an effective effort to marshal the public opinion of the world behind the use solely of pacific means in the solution of controversies between the nations of this earth. We feel not only that this public opinion is a most potent force in the domestic affairs of every nation, but that it is of constantly growing import and influence in the mutual relations of the members of the family of nations.
The timely exercise of the power of such opinion may be effective to prevent a breach of international peace of worldwide significance. We assume that this may be the reason why the invocation of this treaty has been suggested by this conference, and I have been directed by my government to accept your invitation in order that we may most easily and effectively take common counsel with you on the subject. It is our earnest hope that by its action this conference may assist in the fruition of the efforts which are being made by the disputants themselves to adjust by peaceful methods their own differences.”
You should in the course of the discussions make it perfectly clear to the League conferees that this Government has not prejudged the action in regard to the Kellogg Pact which should be taken. With a situation changing from day to day in Manchuria, this Government does not wish to be considered to be insistent as to what may be ultimately found to be the wisest course of procedure. It is believed that mobilizing world opinion against a breach of the peace such as may be found possible under the Pact may prove very useful in bringing about a peaceful solution in Manchuria. If, however, during the course of your deliberations such a peaceful solution should seem to be approaching without the Pact’s invocation, this Government certainly would not wish to press it unduly.
- Quotation not paraphrased.↩