Office of the Historian

793.94/1884: Telegram

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

Geneva, September 25, 1931—3 p.m.
[Received September 25—2 p.m.]

140. Consulate’s 127, September 22, 9 p.m. The following is the translation of a letter dated September 24 addressed to [by] the Japanese representative on the Council to the President of the Council:

“By order of my Government I have the honor to bring to the knowledge of Your Excellency my Government’s reply to the telegram [Page 65] of September 22 which Your Excellency was good enough to send to it.

1.
In regard to the first point mentioned in the message, Japanese troops, since the beginning of the present events have taken care to act only within the limits necessary to insure their own security, the protection of the railway and the security of Japanese nationals. The Government of Japan has firmly pursued the aim of preventing the extension of the incident and the aggravation of the situation; it is profoundly anxious to settle this affair by pacific means, through negotiations between the two countries, as rapidly as possible and it has the definite intention of not abandoning this line of conduct.
2.
As to the second point of the message the Government of Japan wishes to declare that it has withdrawn most of its forces into the railway zone and that they are concentrated [there]. Outside of the said zone some few troops only remain quartered as a measure of precaution in the city of Mukden as well as at Kirin and a small number of soldiers have been stationed at certain points, these measures not constituting military occupation. The withdrawal of its forces is being carried out to the greatest extent which the maintenance of the security of Japanese nationals and the protection of the railway at present permit. The Government of Japan in proposing to withdraw its troops into the railway zone in proportion as the situation ameliorates, confidently hopes that the Council will trust in the sincerity of its attitude in this matter.”

Gilbert