793.94/3687: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 28—3:30 p.m.]
48. The situation as it has developed may be summarized as follows:
1. Yen feels that a mere “declaration” by the President of the Council in any terms is of no value to him. If he be asked to express his views on the draft declaration (Consulate’s 46, January 28, 11 a.m.,65 paragraph 1) before it is presented to the Council he will make no comment nor will he disclose the steps he intends to take.
2. If the situation remains unchanged at the time of the public meeting of the Council which will be probably held tomorrow Yen will make a formal statement before the Council addressed to the Secretary General declaring that articles 10, 12 and 13 of the Covenant have been violated and invoking articles 10 and 15 with the proviso that this action in no way derogates China’s rights under article 11.
This will be seen to be a modification of the plans outlined in Consulate’s 35, January 26, 4 p.m., paragraph 1(b), and 43, January 27, 3 p.m., paragraph 1.
3. The results which may follow from such action are of course a matter for speculation. It is particularly difficult to forecast definite technical or concrete results. The policy which appears to be animating China at present is that she feels that to keep her case before the public and to win favorable world opinion she must invoke all her rights.
4. From the foregoing the invocation by China of the Nine-Power Treaty would seem to become a more [vital?] part of her program.
- Not printed.↩