793.94/4132: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Wilson), at Geneva
13. Your 18, February 11, 7 p.m., first two paragraphs, and Department’s No. 12, February 12, 4 p.m., paragraph 1.
Please inform Drummond orally that, while we wish to do all we properly can to be helpful, as stated in the Department’s telegram under reference, it appears to us, upon consideration, that we do not have available any essential facts relating to the Shanghai situation which are not also available to the League’s Shanghai Committee, with which our representative is fully cooperating; and that it seems to us that the reports of the Shanghai Committee and other materials available to the League from member governments should afford all the factual data needed for the Council’s present consideration of the questions involved under the Covenant.
For your confidential information and, in your discretion, for guarded comment to Drummond, we have a feeling that the Shanghai report,36 as communicated to us, is easily open to controversial attack as to details, but that the really outstanding and essential facts regarding what has occurred and is occurring at and around Shanghai, especially as to military operations and methods, are matters of general and common knowledge, adequately known to all governments and to the Council, and not controvertible.
- First report, dated February 6, 1932, printed in League of Nations, Official Journal, March 1932, p. 374.↩