793.94/1870: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 24—4:47 p.m.]
138. Last paragraph Consulate’s 133, September 23, 8 p.m. The following is the provisional translation obtained from the Secretariat of a communication made orally this morning before a plenary meeting of the Assembly by Lerroux, President of the Council.
“As presidentin [presiding?] officer of the Council I desire to make a communication to the Assembly. The question of the difference between China and Japan is under consideration by the Council. Consultations with the representatives on the Council of China and Japan are taking place and we hope they will lead to a satisfactory conclusion. The Council hopes to be able to make a statement to the Assembly as soon as circumstances permit. Meanwhile, the Council has asked me to assure the Assembly that it is devoting to this question all the time and all the attention which is required in the interest of peace and the respect that the Council owes to the two parties to the dispute.”
Immediately afterwards Titulesco,64 the President of the Assembly, made a declaration of which the following is a provisional translation:
“I believe I can make a statement which for the present will enable us not to have a discussion. It is evident that as long as the dispute has not been brought before this Assembly, it is for the Council to discuss points of fact and endeavor to find the means for conciliation. However, in circumstances like these it is above all necessary that the League of Nations should be able to rely on the approval and help of public opinion in all countries. This approval and help will certainly be forthcoming if our action is in conformity with what is expected of us.
From this point of view it is not enough for the Council to sit permanently (as much as possible in public meetings) until the maintenance of peace is assured. The Assembly must also not finish its labors without having had an opportunity of showing the interest which all the members of our League feel for the success of an action so vital for our institution. We, therefore, hope that the Council will before the end of our session be good enough to make a new communication upon this affair so that the Assembly may express its opinion on the dispute.”
I have learned on good authority above procedure was purposely adopted instead of passing a resolution as forecast in the Consulate’s [Page 62] telegram referred to in order to avoid a discussion in the Assembly on the question at this juncture.
- Representing Rumania.↩