793.94/2625: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Shaw)
545. For Ambassador Dawes: Ambassador Forbes has sent the Department the following telegram of November 12 from Tokyo:
[Here follows text of telegram No. 215, November 12, 1931, 1 p.m., printed on page 430.]
I do not concur with Forbes in the view he expresses that we “now might express approval of this plan”. The latter has within it the [Page 433] possibility of de facto control by the Japanese of the Manchurian administration, and for the powers to support such a proposal at this time would give China the impression that the powers are willing to assent to dominance by Japan there. According to the estimates of this Government, these so-called “defense committees” of Chinese are a creation of Japanese military authorities, and, for the present at least, the United States should avoid either the fact or the appearance of approval of any move those authorities make. Ultimately it may be found necessary for us to acquiesce, but currently this Government should not associate itself in any respect with or countenance projects formulated or put into operation by those authorities.
Should Japan’s representatives introduce any such proposal at Paris, a noncommittal attitude should be assumed by you.