793.94 Commission/366: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 17—11:25 a.m.]
245. Learn that request in Japanese letter cited in Consulate’s 241, September 15, 5 p.m., does not refer to publication of Lytton report but only to its consideration by the Council.
It is understood here that a copy of the Lytton report together with annexes was left in “safe custody” in Tokyo (believed to be the British Ambassador) to be handed to the Japanese Government simultaneously with the printed copies being given to the members of the Council. The identical arrangement is being followed in Nanking. The prospective procedure is that the day following the distribution of the report privately to the members of the Council (see Berne’s No. 80, September 14th63) it will be distributed to the members of the League and will be in all probability “published” the same day. Understand that the Japanese have agreed that receipt here of the report by Japanese representative on the Council will be accepted by Japan as constituting the date from which the request for the 6 weeks’ delay will run.
Consulate’s No. 241, final sentence. The action in the next regular meeting of the Council will not be a “consideration” of the contents of the report but will have regard only to questions of its “status”, the Japanese present request being the only matter now anticipated to come up.
It is expected that the Chinese will oppose Japan’s request. It is hoped, however, that the Chinese will not oppose as it seems certain that the Council will acquiesce in this request as it is not only regarded [Page 258] as reasonable but also felt that the delay will permit Japanese public feeling to subside.
It is understood here that arrangements have been made by the Commission for making a copy of the report informally available to Washington in advance of its release here. This is not, however, regarded here as an official presentation of the report to Washington or the copy regarded as an “official” copy. The press carries reports that Washington will publish. It is understood that Washington might desire to publish for the sake of convenience but the Secretariat hopes that the report will not be published in America before being made public here.
Believe these developments will eventuate in a subsequent relative deferment of all dates mentioned in detailed forecast of events, described in Consulate’s despatch No. 341, Political, dated September 13,65 now in the mail, except dates for receipt and publication of Lytton report.