793.94/1869: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 24—9 p.m.]
161. Drummond has just handed me the answer of the President of the Council dated today in reply to your message contained in your 123, September 23, 4 p.m. The text was adopted at a full private meeting of the Council just terminated.
“My Dear Mr. Wilson: On behalf of the President of the Council of the League of Nations I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 24th September enclosing a telegram addressed to [me] in regard to the appeal from the Chinese Government under article 11 of the Covenant of the League of Nations. May I ask you [to] transmit to the Secretary of State its appreciation of the friendly answer which he was good enough to make in regard to the situation which has unhappily arisen between two highly respected members of the family of nations, China and Japan. The Council is gratified to note that the Government of the United States is in wholehearted sympathy with the attitude of the League of Nations as expressed in the Council resolution, and that it will despatch to Japan and China, in addition to previous communications, notes on lines similar to those followed by the Council.
The Council has no preconceived method for solving the difficulties which have arisen; no procedure or formula to which it is irrevocably attached [bound?] other than its obligations to ‘take action that may be deemed wise and effectual to safeguard the peace of nations.’
To this end the Council will gladly continue to keep the United States Government informed of any action it may take or any information it may secure, and ventures to hope that that Government will also be disposed to communicate with it. The Council feels confident that, irrespective of any individual effort which any government may deem it desirable to make, it is by the continuance of common endeavor that a successful result is most likely to be achieved. The efforts which are now being made here will be continued by the Council in such form as circumstances may require.
Believe me, my dear Mr. Wilson,
Yours very sincerely,
(signed) A. Lerroux
[Acting?] President of the
Council of the League of Nations[”]