793.94/2301: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:52 p.m.]
240. My 238, October 21, 11 p.m. At yesterday evening’s meeting of the Committee of Five, Briand apprised it of the results of his Japanese negotiations. The net result and the situation which arises from it are as follows:
(1) No reply from Tokyo has been received here by the Japanese representative concerning his Government’s position on the five points mentioned in paragraph (3) of my 238.
(2) Briand found in the course of his negotiations that the Japanese decline to accept (a) a withdrawal time limit and (b) neutral observers. Thereupon he suggested to the Japanese that they at once undertake negotiations with the Chinese to embrace only questions which immediately relate to Japanese evacuation and the security of Japanese life and property, with all other questions excluded. Actually this is the same question referred to in (1) above. A Japanese reply is awaited.
(3) Briand proposed to the Committee of Five a draft resolution, and the Committee adopted it.
(4) With only the French text of this draft resolution available, the first four paragraphs appear identical with the first four in the [Page 292] resolution quoted in my 213, October 17, midnight, as amended in my 215, October 18, 2 p.m.
There is a wide difference between the remaining paragraphs of this draft resolution and those quoted in my telegrams under reference.
As soon as the final phraseology has been agreed upon, I will send you the text in full. However, the essential idea of it is that, for the purpose of giving effect to the September 30 resolution of the Council, the disputants will begin immediate conversations, through their chosen representatives, in order to conclude the arrangements necessary for both the withdrawal of Japanese troops and the security of Japanese lives and property, these arrangements being such as to allow the completion with the least possible delay of the evacuation. The resolution provides further for the Council’s adjournment until November 12 in order to permit sufficient time for the conversations in question and the following evacuation to be completed, it being implied that the Council expects completion of the evacuation, or at least its near completion, prior to the date of the next session.
(5) If the disputants accept the terms of this resolution, it will become a Council resolution.
(6) The draft will be presented first to the Japanese; if they reply favorably, Briand will call in the Chinese and endeavor to have them accept it. If the Chinese in turn accept it, then the arrangement will be confirmed at another conference with the Japanese. Briand is submitting a report at 10:30 a.m. today to the Committee of Five.
(7) Should the Japanese reply unfavorably, the Council at its next meeting will return to the resolution quoted in my telegram under reference. This will be presented to both disputants with the invitation to “reflect”. Then the Council will adjourn until a specific date.
(8) The foregoing procedure probably will be followed also if the Japanese accept but the Chinese refuse, though this is considered less likely.