Office of the Historian

793.94/2895: Telegram

The Chargé in France (Shaw) to the Secretary of State

Paris, November 25, 1931—4 p.m.
[Received November 25—1:05 p.m.]

799. From Ambassador Dawes: [Paraphrase.] The so-called Chinese counterproposal has just been sent by Sze to Briand. It must, of course, be assumed that Sze was instructed by his Government to do [Page 564] this following receipt through both Johnson and myself of the statement of the United States attitude. You will observe that references to the United States are eliminated in this counterproposal and also that Briand has not yet been asked by Sze to present the document to the League Council.

The text of the counterproposal reads as follows: [End paraphrase.]

  • “Article 1. Immediate cessation of all military activity in any way tending to aggravate the situation.
  • Article 2. Withdrawal of Japanese forces within the railway areas; such withdrawal to begin at once, proceed progressively and be completed within 2 weeks.
  • Article 3. China to assume full responsibility for the security of the lives and property of Japanese nationals in Manchuria. In this connection China is ready to cooperate in any reasonable measures looking to the establishment of additional guarantees of security by means of neutral aid or otherwise.
  • Article 4. The details of evacuation and the taking over of territory, as well as the measures to safeguard security of Japanese life and property in Manchuria, to be subject of discussion and agreement between China and Japan in the presence of neutrals representing the Council.
  • Article 5. The creation by the League of a neutral commission to supervise the evacuation and the taking over of the evacuated territories and to study and report upon the situation in Manchuria for the information of the Council and of the conference hereinafter mentioned in paragraph 7.
  • Article 6. The mutual reaffirmance by both China and Japan of the principle of respect for international treaties, especially the Covenant of the League of Nations, the Paris Pact for the Renunciation of War, and the Washington Nine-Power Treaty.
  • Article 7. The convocation of a conference of all interested powers to discuss and settle all questions between China and Japan relating to Manchuria on the basis of the principles embodied in the Covenant of the League of Nations, the Paris Pact for the Renunciation of War and the Washington Nine-Power Treaty, with a view to safeguarding peace in the Far East and promoting the economic development of Manchuria through international cooperation.”
  • [Dawes]
  • Shaw