793.94/2173: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 16—1:55 p.m.]
208. Consulate’s 204, October 16, 1 p.m. Following is text of my opening statement.
“In this moment of deep international concern, I thank you for your invitation to sit in your deliberations and to participate in your discussions insofar as the Pact of Paris, to which my country is a party, is concerned.
The Government of the United States of America has been following with the closest attention the proceedings before the Council for the settlement of the dispute at present unhappily existing between China and Japan. My Government does not seek to intrude with respect to such measures as you may propose under the Covenant of the League of Nations; and is not in a position to participate with the members of the Council in the formulation of any action envisaged under that instrument, for the composing of differences existing between two of its members. It has already conveyed to you its sympathetic appreciation of your efforts, and its wholehearted accord with the objective you have in view; and it has expressed the hope that the tried machinery of the League may in this case, as on previous occasions, be successful in bringing this dispute to a conclusion satisfactory to both parties. Moreover, acting independently and through diplomatic channels my Government has already signified its moral support of your efforts 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, I repeat, 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 this extent in America an effective means of marshaling the public opinion of the world behind the use of pacific means only in the solution of controversies between nations. We feel not only that this public opinion is a most [Page 210] potent force in the domestic affairs of every nation, but that it is of constantly growing importance 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 world-wide consequences. We assume that this may be the reason why the consideration of the relationship between the provisions of the Pact of Paris and the present situation has been brought forward in this body; and the purpose which has moved my Government to accept your invitation is that thus we may most enthusiastically and effectively take common counsel with you on this subject.”