793.94 Commission/41: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 29—11:30 a.m.]
52. Consulate’s 51, January 29, noon.69 Drummond has just conveyed to me the following communication with the request that it be transmitted to you:
“A meeting was held this morning between the President of the Council, French representative, and the representatives of Great Britain, Germany, Italy, together with the Secretary General.
The proposal was put forward that in view of the Chinese request for the application of article No. 15 as well as article No. 11, a request based clearly on recent developments at Shanghai, the Commission of Inquiry should be asked to proceed to Shanghai by the quickest possible route, the Trans-Siberian Railroad. As this, however, at best must take 3 weeks it was suggested that in the meantime the powers having nationals on the Commission should be invited by the Council to form a temporary commission to act as a provisional commission pending arrival of the Commission already nominated. The provisional commission would consist of those Ministers or Consuls General on the spot and its task would be to report on the facts and causes of the recent incidents at Shanghai.
The representatives of France, Great Britain, Germany and Italy are requesting the agreement of their Governments to this proposal. They expressed the hope that if such a temporary commission is formed the Minister or Consul General of the United States in Shanghai will be authorized to be a member of it.”
Please instruct as to reply.
- Not printed.↩