793.94/2894: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Shaw) to the Secretary of State
798. From Ambassador Dawes: Referring to your 592, November 24, midnight, which authorized me to act fully in my discretion. I asked Drummond, who has been representing Briand in conferring with me, to come to my office. Through him I have sent a statement to Briand, with the understanding it is not to be published before (a) all the Council members, other than China and Japan, have agreed upon the general plan of the resolution, and (b) the Council has published the text of its proposed resolution. Here is my statement:97
“The United States Government approves the general plan of settlement embodied in the proposed resolution of the Government of the United States [League of Nations Council?] and has so informed both China and Japan. It has urged upon them acquiescence in the general plan embodied in the proposed resolution.”
It is definitely understood also that I am to make this statement to the public, not to the League, when Briand has notified me that my two conditions mentioned above have been carried out.
I followed the foregoing method in compliance with the spirit of your telegram and before Sze’s reply has been received. Now it is left to the discretion of Briand as to whether the American announcement will be most helpful if made before or after his receipt of Sze’s reply. I do not think the relation of Sze’s answer to the timing of the announcement is of vital importance, because the American attitude is known in general to all parties. Personally, I feel that, if Sze’s reply conveys China’s agreement, which is not probable, an earlier announcement will have done no harm, while if Sze’s reply proves unfavorable, the announcement will still afford China a fresh chance to reconsider in advance of the Council’s public meeting and after world public opinion has had time to react to the announcement of specific cooperation between the United States and the League in order to obtain a peaceful settlement. [Dawes.]