793.94 Commission/781: Telegram

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

99. My 71, December 15, 8 p.m.,78 72, December 15, 9 p.m.79 and 98, February 8, 1 p.m.

The Japanese delegation has proposed the following amendments to the December draft resolutions and “statement of reasons” (Declaration of the President).

Following substituted for paragraph 4 of resolution number 1 (translation):

“Decides that the Committee of Nineteen would have the duty of endeavoring, in collaboration with the two parties, to insure conciliation with a view to a settlement on the basis of the principles and the conclusions set out in chapter 9 of the report of the Commission of Inquiry, in harmonizing them with the events which have occurred.”

Regarding draft resolution number 2 after the word “report” substitute “constitutes an invaluable contribution to the efforts of the League for the maintenance of peace”.

Regarding the “Statement of Reasons” (Declaration of the President).

Paragraph 2. After word “constitute” substitute following “an invaluable contribution to the efforts of the League for the maintenance of peace”.

Paragraph 8. After the word “them” in second sentence substitute the following (translation):

“In conformity with paragraph 4 of the resolution on the basis of the principles and of the conclusions set out in chapter 9 of the report of the Commission of Inquiry in harmonizing them with the events which have occurred.”

Paragraph 9. After the word “nineteen” substitute the following:

“Notes that Japan has recognized the present regime established in Manchuria and that no other member of the League has done so.

It is to be noted that the report of the Commission of Inquiry states in chapter 9, the principles and conclusions of which the Assembly has adopted in paragraph 4 of the resolution as the basis of the negotiations for a settlement, that a mere return to the conditions previous to September, 1931, would not suffice to ensure a durable settlement, and that the maintenance and recognition of the present regime in Manchuria could not be regarded as a solution, [Page 159] and also that a satisfactory regime for the future might be evolved out of the present one without any violent change.”

Now that there is at least a possibility of entering on discussions on conciliation the League members, especially Yen, are much concerned lest the Japanese use conciliation merely as a means for gaining time to avoid recourse by the Assembly to paragraph 4 of article number 15 and to complete their military operations in Jehol.

The drafting committee this morning had what is generally described as a perfunctory session. The Committee of Nineteen meets tomorrow morning to consider the Japanese proposals.

Wilson