793.94 Commission/250: Telegram

The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State

96. The following letter received from Drummond dated June 15.

“I received last night a telegram from Lytton Commission referring to the reports which have appeared in the press to the effect that there is a strong movement in certain circles in Japan for immediate recognition of the Manchukuo government. The Commission is clearly troubled by this possibility and asks me to ascertain (1) what information is being received from Tokyo by the principal members of the Council on this subject; (2) what action if any could be effective to induce Japan not to take such a step. The Commission observes that any such action by Japan would greatly reduce the prospect of an early friendly settlement of the Manchurian problem and would be difficult to reconcile with the engagement taken by Japan in December ‘to avoid any further aggravation of the situation’.

I should be very glad of any information or advice which you could give on the two points specified by the Commission.52

It has asked me to consider its message as nonofficial and confidential. I am writing in a similar sense to the British, French, German and Italian delegations.”

Wilson
  1. The Department’s telegram No. 87, June 21, 1 p.m., informed the Minister in Switzerland of the contents of telegram No. 161, June 20, noon, from the Ambassador in Japan, p. 92.