793.94/2549: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 9—11:45 a.m.]
294. Drummond handed me this morning a copy of identic telegram which he sent on November 6 to Tokyo and Nanking in the name of Briand as President of the Council concerning recent armed conflict between the Chinese and Japanese forces in Manchuria:
“The extension of incidents towards Northern Manchuria and the serious nature of information supplied regarding those incidents by the Chinese and Japanese Governments cannot but increase the anxiety of the Council and public opinion. As President of the Council I desire to remind you that the Chinese and Japanese representatives have given assurances that their Governments will take all necessary steps to avoid aggravating the situation. The Council placed these solemn undertakings on record in its resolution of September 30th. To fulfill those undertakings it now seems to me necessary for the two Governments to issue instructions without delay to the officers commanding their forces in order to remove all possibility of sanguinary engagements between Chinese and Japanese troops, as any further serious incidents may make it even more difficult for the Council to pursue its efforts for the maintenance of peace and the peaceful settlement of the dispute with which it is called upon to deal.”