793.94/4573: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
51. Last evening Simon told Davis he had received a cable from Admiral Kelly which made him feel rather confident that the time had now come when hostilities could actually be stopped and that the British and Americans must keep in constant touch and that he wished to see Davis and myself to continue cooperation.
Thus after talking on the telephone with you last night Davis and I called on Simon and subsequently on Sir Eric Drummond and Massigli in the temporary absence of Paul-Boncour.
Regarding your preoccupation as to the Assembly not taking a declaration concerning the nonrecognition of rights acquired by violence and in conflict with treaties, Sir John was emphatic in his declaration that he is in entire agreement with you, that this is the minimum which the Assembly should do and he had no reason to doubt that they would do so but that if by any chance it failed he would make a pronouncement on behalf of the British Government. He charged me to assure you of his entire accord and invited your attention to the resolution come to of the Twelve on February 16th41 as well as the declaration by Briand on January 29th42 which is more vigorous in tone than that of February 16th. He added that the Twelve could for juridical reasons act only as individuals but that now the states represented on the [Page 509] Assembly could make more emphatic declarations as states. He said that he had not confided his thoughts to London but had only reported acts, that even if some declaration to the contrary had been made it should be disregarded as he himself was directing foreign policy and no one there was authorized to say what was in his mind nor was he responsible for the various currents of opinion that might arise from divergent party views with respect to his attitude. I only touched very lightly on the possibility of noncooperation in Shanghai in connection with awaiting the Assembly’s action but explained to him that it would facilitate American cooperation with the League to have the League manifest its cooperation as early as possible because both of us were convinced of Sir John’s determination and because we are unwilling to do anything which would jeopardize the cooperation between Great Britain and America. We feel strongly that any hesitancy on our part now to cooperate in Shanghai would be lamentable and it must be borne in mind that the Assembly machinery is cumbersome and that it may take some days to arrive at a decision.
We then saw Drummond and he was of the same opinion and was candid in his assertion that he had not the slightest doubt that the Assembly would go at least this far. From a strategic point of view he thinks it would be a mistake to introduce a resolution to this effect at the early stages of the General Commission’s debate as it might give the impression to the more violent members of the Assembly that there was an endeavor to choke them off. However, it might be said by some speaker in the early stages that such a resolution was the minimum the Assembly could attempt and must certainly be one of the steps which it would take.
Regarding Massigli. He was also in complete accord and recognizes that the least the Assembly must do is this step nor had he heard anyone offer objection. Last night Massigli stopped Davis, told him the French were uncomfortable about status of negotiations for the cessation of hostilities; that it put France and the other powers who had associated themselves with proposal of the Council in an unsatisfactory position as long as the British Admiral is attempting to negotiate a cessation alone and said it would not only be more satisfactory for the other powers concerned to sit in but that it would increase the possibilities of success by having them show a united front. When we met Simon this morning we conveyed this to him. He immediately said this was undoubtedly true and that he would at once instruct Lampson to suggest to Kelly that in any further parleys the latter invite representatives of the other principal powers to be present. We have subsequently so informed Massigli who was quite pleased.