793.94/4759: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 15—9:30 a.m.]
119. Consulate’s 117, March 11, 9 p.m. Secretary General has circulated the following communication dated March 12th addressed by Yen to the President of the Assembly:
“In accordance with instructions from my Government I have the honor to inform you that the Chinese Government accepts the resolution adopted by the Assembly of the League of Nations on the 11th instant. As I anticipated in my explanation to the Assembly for my abstention the acceptance of the resolution has been delayed because of the time required for telegraphic communication between Geneva and Nanking and for no other reasons.
My Government is gratified that practically all the principles of importance for which it has contended since the very inception of the Sino-Japanese dispute have been incorporated in the resolution of March 11th. My Government desires to refer in particular to three of these principles:
- 1.
- That the settlement of the dispute should not be sought under the stress of military coercion which it takes to mean that the evacuation of Japanese troops must precede negotiation.
- 2.
- That it is the obligation of members of the League to submit any dispute which may arise among them to procedures for peaceful settlement which absolves the Republic of China from all responsibility for the present terrible state of affairs in Manchuria, Shanghai and other parts of China, and
- 3.
- That it is incumbent upon the members of the League of [Page 586] Nations not to recognize any situation, et cetera, brought about contrary to the Covenant of the League or the Pact of Paris. The word “situation” must of course cover the present state of things created in Manchuria through Japanese manipulation, instigation and military support—in particular to the puppet government in Manchuria.
I shall be deeply obliged to you to bring the above to the knowledge of the Assembly.”