Office of the Historian

793.94/1875: Telegram

The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]
Geneva, September 24, 1931—6 p.m.
[Received September 24—5:40 p.m.]

137. Consulate’s 133, September 23, 8 p.m. It is learned from a reliable source that at the private Council meeting held yesterday at 7 p.m. the following took place:

1.
The Japanese representative was queried as to whether he had any information to give in regard to the suggested sending of observers to Manchuria.
2.
He answered that he had not.
3.
This Japanese reply was declared to be disappointing to the Chinese representative, who offered a new proposal authorizing the Council to name certain states to which the Chinese Government might apply for appointment of observers who would report to the League.
4.
In reply the Japanese representative stated his Government could not take responsibility for such a proposal.
5.
Adjournment of the discussion was suggested by Lord Cecil in the hope that a Japanese counterproposal might be received.
6.
The Japanese representative assented to adjournment.
7.
The Chinese representative insisted upon immediate treatment of the question of sending observers.
8.
Lord Cecil appealed to the Japanese representative to communicate with his Government by telegram and said it was his hope that Tokyo would agree, since the question of appointing observers was considered by the League as most urgent.
9.
It was suggested further by Cecil that such a mission might perhaps be composed of two neutral members appointed by Japan, two by China, and three by the Council.
10.
The Japanese representative inquired whether this proposal was identical with the “observer idea”.
11.
In reply Cecil said the proposal was not “to observe” but instead “to report” to the League.
12.
While not saying he would support Cecil’s proposal, the Japanese representative agreed to telegraph his Government in this sense.
13.
The arrangement is still open to discussion.
14.
It was stated by the Chinese representative that the Japanese have advanced within the Great Wall.
15.
To this the Japanese representative responded that certain strategic points had been occupied, though he was not informed of any “military advances” south of the Wall.

Gilbert