793.94/4080: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham)
Washington, February 12, 1932—12
p.m.
19. For the Minister. Your February 9, 9 a.m., from Nanking, paragraph 2, last sentence.
- 1.
- I have had in mind for some time the possibility of making a statement such as you suggest on behalf of maintaining the principles and provisions of the Nine-Power Treaty. At present I am conferring with the British Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding the possibility of a joint or concurrent statement by the two governments and perhaps others. I have reason to believe that he may be in considerable measure influenced by reports and recommendations which may be made to him by the British Minister to China.
- 2.
- I therefore desire that you discuss with Lampson the dangers inherent in a policy of undermining the authority of the Nine-Power Treaty, attributed to Japanese official sources, as reported, and express to him your views regarding the situation and your suggestion for meeting this attack on the Treaty and averting a possible disastrous reaction among the Chinese as outlined to me in paragraphs 2 and 4 of your telegram under reference.
- 3.
- In taking this up with Lampson, you should avoid disclosing that you have been thus instructed, and should not mention the information given in paragraph 1 above unless Lampson himself discloses that he has been so informed.
Stimson