793.94/4234: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 16—1:05 p.m.]
23. Following is Sweetser’s memorandum of private meeting of Twelve this morning:
“Lord Londonderry, at the close of today’s meeting of the Twelve called to consider an appeal to Japan to desist from military action at Shanghai, surprised his colleagues by unexpectedly stating that he wished at this afternoon’s meeting to propose a final paragraph which would recall the terms of article No. 10 of the Covenant by which Japan as well as other members of the League agree to respect and preserve as against external aggression the territorial integrity of all other member states. His draft went on to say that it was the friendly right of the members of the Council to call Japan’s attention to the article and to point out that no change in political independence or territorial integrity could be recognized by the League which was brought about contrary to that article. While no formal discussion took place at the moment the members of the Council seemed very much in accord with the suggestion, some stating privately that it gave a real purpose to the declaration and put the Council in a good position before world opinion and before the anticipated assembly. Discussion of this text together with the final drafting of the general appeal will take place at a further meeting this afternoon.
Boncour opened today’s meeting with the reading of Simon’s letter (see Wilson’s 20, February 13, 10 p.m.). Drummond said that since the Council’s last meeting the second Shanghai report had been received. The Council had not yet expressed an opinion on the two reports. There were two questions to decide (1st) as to whether the Council would express an opinion on these reports under article 15 of the Covenant and (2d) as to what action the Council would take regarding China’s request for a special Assembly. Should the Council decide to express an opinion on the Shanghai reports he suggested that it should do so before convoking the Assembly as otherwise its right to do so would pass to that body. He accordingly suggested that [Page 352] no decision as to the convocation of the Assembly be taken until Thursday in order to give the members of the Council chance to study the reports and decide upon their policy. As this necessarily involved delay he suggested some immediate action be taken entirely apart from the opinion. The Twelve might address to Japan an appeal of which subsequently he submitted a draft. He thought this might have certain results as there seemed to be a strong movement developing in Japan against the Shanghai action. Public opinion there seemed to differentiate sharply between Shanghai and Manchuria and he thought it might be very useful to get a statement to Sato the same day.
Londonderry thought this procedure was right as regards both the convocation of the Assembly and the communication to Japan. He wondered, however, if it were necessary to press the matter so urgently and issue the appeal today, perhaps the Council might wait 2 or 3 days, say until Thursday.51
The members of the Council were all against delay. A detailed discussion ensued on the actual text which Drummond described and the members of the Council accepted as an appeal to the better nature of Japan and to the liberal elements there.”
Will telegraph again tonight.
- February 18.↩