793.94/2323: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:22 p.m.]
248. My 247, October 24, 3 p.m. To allow last-minute negotiations by Briand with the Japanese representative, the meeting which was scheduled for 4 p.m. today was deferred until 5 p.m. The suggestion Briand put forward was for the Japanese representative to append a reservation to the draft resolution of the Council to the effect that, should the evacuation conditions not be fulfilled by the specified time (see paragraph 4 (a) of said resolution; my 242, October 22, 6 p.m.), the Japanese might put off their evacuation pending fulfillment of these conditions. The French Ambassador in Japan had sent Briand a telegram to the effect, I understand, that Baron Shidehara had agreed to accept the Council’s resolution with this reservation. After asking for half an hour to consider this, the Japanese representative refused.