793.94/1811: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 23—9:25 a.m.]
125. Consulate’s No. 124, September 22, 7 p.m. The afternoon session of the Council was delayed one hour later than anticipated due to difficulty in arriving at previous agreement concerning the terms of the resolution quoted in the Consulate’s No. 123, September 22, 6 p.m.
The Japanese delegate spoke first giving assurance of the purpose of Japan to remain faithful to the terms of its international engagements under the Covenant and the Kellogg Pact. He reiterated briefly the statements which he had made in the morning concerning the tense situation leading up to the conflict.
[Page 35]The Chinese delegate followed with a statement emphasizing China’s peaceable intentions and referred to further telegrams which he had received from his Government indicating that the situation was becoming worse and worse every hour and that acts of a revolting character were being perpetrated by Japanese troops. He urged the Council to send a commission of inquiry to the spot at the earliest moment and insisted that the element of time was essential in a situation of this character especially in view of the information he had received to the effect that the extent of the occupation of Chinese territory had not diminished but was being extended.
The President of the Council then requested authorization to take the steps indicated in the Consulate’s No. 123, September 22, 6 p.m. The delegates of Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Great Britain, Panama, and Norway then spoke expressing approval of the action suggested by the President but stressed the fact that it constitutes only a preliminary step which must be followed up by other measures intended to achieve a final settlement. There is no difference of emphasis on the responsibility of the Council and the necessity of safeguarding its authority.
The Chinese delegate accepted this procedure as a provisional measure although it did not get as far as he desired and expressed the hope and expectation that this would be followed by such other acts of the Council as the circumstances demanded. He urged that the next meeting of the Council to consider further measures should take place as soon as possible and suggested an examination of the whole situation “under the auspices of and the control of the League of Nations.”
The Japanese delegate assented to the resolution and stated that with respect to the next meeting of the Council to consider this matter he could not indicate more fully than he had already done the attitude and policy of his Government until after he had received instructions from the latter.