793.94/1931: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2 p.m.]
144. Consulate’s 142, September 26, 10 a.m. Council last night resumed consideration of the Sino-Japanese dispute. Japan announced that the withdrawal of troops is continuing and that now Japanese soldiers remain outside railway zone only at Mukden, Kirin and small detachments at Hsinmintung and Chengchiatun. The Chinese delegate requested explanations of the reported attacks by airplanes on trains of the Peiping-Mukden Railroad.
With regard to policy the Japanese reiterated their intention of withdrawing troops as the return of peaceful conditions makes it possible. The assurance of the Chinese Government has not always been able to enforce its authority in the provinces.
In replying to the Japanese statement, the Chinese delegate wished the assurance that all the troops were withdrawn, the status quo ante would be completely restored and that any property seized would be returned. On the question of how the evacuation should be carried out, the Chinese delegate stated that the views of his Government favoring a neutral commission of inquiry were well known to the Council. However, in a desire to be conciliatory he “proposed that the Council should help the parties to reach an agreement as to arrangements on the spot which would make it possible to fix an early date for the completion of the withdrawal of troops, and render it unnecessary for the Council to send a Commission of Inquiry from Geneva.” In the debate upon his proposal that ensued the Japanese delegate declared that he would at once telegraph to Tokyo the proposal for the organization of a commission on the spot to expedite the evacuation provided such commission was composed solely of Japanese and Chinese; if the Chinese proposal envisaged the inclusion of nations of any other state he would not transmit it to his Government. The Chinese delegate maintained the view that since there were matters on which the two countries could not agree and since his proposals envisaged the Council’s help in reaching an agreement, there should be a representative of the Council appointed on the commission which would report to the Council.
Cecil here intervened in an attempt to reconcile the two points of view but no solution was reached in the meeting. His suggestion that the Chinese delegate put in writing his proposals for the organization of a commission on the spot was adopted.
[Page 89]The Council then adjourned after a statement from the President that he would explain the entire situation to the Assembly at its session this morning.