793.94 Commission/53: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:07 a.m.]
63. 1. I have imparted to Drummond orally the message conveyed in your number 33, January 30, 6 p.m.
2. I informed him frankly that the Department had not at the time of its reply yet received his aide-mémoire of January 30.13 I told him, however, that in my personal view his communication of January 30 was so parallel in substance to his communication of January 2914 in the particular respect of the setting up of the inquiry at Shanghai that its receipt would not affect the decision of the United States in the premises. I would, however, appreciate the Department’s informing me on this point in order that the record may be clear.
3. Drummond stated that the Conference would welcome the cooperation of American officials in the inquiry at Shanghai under the conditions described in the Department’s telegram under reference. He added that he believed that certain of the powers would be represented in the inquiry by their Ministers and that he personally hoped that this would be the case, not only because it would give the inquiry greater prestige but also because rightly or wrongly a belief was current that the consular corps at Shanghai was anti-Japanese.
4. The matter of the invitation to the United States to participate in the Shanghai inquiry is one resting entirely within the competence of the Secretary General who under the terms of article 15 of the Covenant is authorized to pursue any means within his discretion to obtain pertinent information upon which to base his report to the Council. Although the Secretary General will undoubtedly make known to the leading representatives on the Council the substance of his exchanges with the American Government on this point the question will presumably not come before the Council or be discussed in the Council unless it be brought forward by some member on his own initiative which seems unlikely.
5. I have reason to believe, however, that the substance of the Secretary General’s communication of January 30 is known to press representatives here and I assume that it will be carried by the American press. In view of this I would appreciate being informed whether the Department is making any announcements or what reply is being made to inquiries, with particular reference to the earnest of cooperation in Shanghai on the part of American officials in China in line with the penultimate paragraph of the Department’s telegram under reference.
[Page 157]Drummond has just telephoned me to say that in view of confusing rumors leaking out in regard to this matter he feels he must make an announcement. He will, however, withhold his announcement until 6 p.m. today Geneva time in order to afford the Department opportunity to make a prior official announcement in Washington if it so desires.
6. It is impossible to predict how much longer the Council will continue to hold meetings on the Sino-Japanese dispute. The present plan is simply to hold meetings from time to time to receive reports which the Secretary will submit to it from Shanghai.