793.94 Commission/42: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Geneva (Gilbert)
33. Your 52 and 53, January 29, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. For your guidance and to be explained orally,—
As has several times been clearly pointed out, while the American Government is in complete sympathy with the League in its efforts to keep the peace in the Far East and is glad to cooperate wherever possible, it nevertheless cannot associate itself with the machinery of the League of which it is not a member.
For this reason, although this Government welcomes the idea of a Commission to report on the facts and causes of recent incidents in Shanghai, as this Commission will be acting under the provisions of Article 15 of the League Covenant the American Government cannot see its way to appoint its Minister or Consul General as a member of the Commission.
The United States, however, has a direct concern in the Shanghai [Page 124] situation due to its desire to preserve international peace, to protect its interests in the International Settlement and the life and property of its nationals, and to safeguard its treaty rights, including those under the Nine Power Treaty and the Kellogg-Briand Treaty. In view of the general similarity of the aims and interests in this situation of the United States and of the states members of the Council, the American Government, if desired by the Council, will instruct its Minister or Consul General to cooperate with the members of such a commission organized as indicated in studying and reporting upon the facts and causes of the incidents at Shanghai.
Please make this statement at once to Drummond.