793.94/2503a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Geneva (Gilbert)
126. The text of a confidential telegram, No. 217, November 3, 6 p.m., to the Embassy in Japan is quoted below. On November 5 the memorandum was read and delivered to the Foreign Office at Tokyo. The text is as follows:
[Here follows text of the Department’s No. 217, printed in Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, volume I, page 34.]
The text of the memorandum may be read by you in confidence to Drummond.
You should explain to him that I regard this memorandum as this Government’s representation to the Japanese Government and therefore am not making the text of it available to others. To the French Ambassador here I have read the text and made extensive comment on it. He is to report my action to M. Briand.
You should point out, regarding the memorandum’s contents, that my special objective has been to clarify for the Japanese Government the fact that the objectives of this Government and of the League Council are identical in seeking the prevention of war and the bringing about of a solution by peaceful means. Please point out my endorsement has been indicated of the League’s effort and action as expressed in the September 30 and October 24 resolutions, but, as to the October 24 resolution, I have, while invoking its spirit, refrained deliberately from mention of the time limit and have avoided thus expressing any view whether favorable or unfavorable regarding this particular feature of the resolution. You should point out that I have laid stress upon the view that a condition precedent to evacuation of Japanese armed forces should not be made of the settlement of long-standing issues and that the Japanese Government should not avail itself of the presence of these armed forces as an instrumentality to bring pressure to bear on China during the negotiations. You should say to Drummond that I consider this to be fundamental and feel it is imperative for it to be understood that we are for the same fundamental principles.
Inform Drummond further that the contents of this communication to Japan are not receiving publicity from me and that, while he may inform the Council members of my representations in the sense above indicated, I trust he will be very guarded in disclosing the substance. My suggestion is that Drummond inform them merely that I have made representations which support the position of the Council regarding what I have referred to in the foregoing as fundamental.