793.94/2479
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Castle)
The British Ambassador came to see me to ask about the Manchurian situation and as to whether we had sent a note supporting the League resolution. I told him that we were very carefully considering what our action should be, that we wanted to make it clear that we were in accord with the spirit of the League’s action, but that I did not feel that we were called upon to concur in detail with the resolution. He said that parts of it seemed to him unfortunate, particularly the date of withdrawal. I told him that we had the same feeling here. I said that our aim would be to point out to the Japanese that it was exceedingly unfortunate for them to make as a sine qua non of withdrawal a demand for negotiation on subjects which had no relation or at least no immediate connection with the present dispute.
The Ambassador said that he felt the League’s action to have been hurried and perhaps taken at a time when the members were not all thinking calmly. I also told him that when we had decided exactly what message to transmit to Japan, I would let him know.