793.94 Commission/784: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 9—1:15 p.m.]
100. My 99, February 8, 10 p.m. The following information has been given me in strict confidence by an American adviser to Matsuoka in whose credibility I have every reason to believe.82
The amendments proposed yesterday to the Committee of Nineteen by the Japanese delegation are on the latter’s initiative. There are no new instructions from Tokyo. These proposals are in reality merely suggestions. If the Committee of Nineteen should find them acceptable they would still have to be sent to Tokyo for approval there.
These proposals are a last attempt by the Japanese. Matsuoka has begun to prepare a statement of withdrawal from further cooperation with the League to be read out by him in the Assembly in case of failure of agreement which the Japanese delegation here considers inevitable.
Matsuoka and the other civilian members of the delegation, supported by the naval group, are at odds with the army element. The latter are anxious for a break with Geneva while the others are very desirous of maintaining cooperation with the League and bringing about the appointment of a committee of conciliation. The civilian element hopes that if this can be achieved the negotiations would cover a year or two. During this period the conservative element in Japan would have an opportunity to calm down public opinion and bring about a compromise with the Chinese regarding Manchukuo along the line that the Chinese would agree to suppression of communism and anti-Japanese boycott in return for a face-saving device in Manchuria such as recognition of Chinese sovereignty by an annual raising of the Chinese flag in Manchuria and a form of suzerainty similar to that previously existing between Turkey and Bulgaria, with Pu-Yi as President and Governor General.
According to my informant there is not the least chance at this time of the Japanese Government being able to agree upon any such face-saving device regarding Manchukuo. An effort to this end would mean the assassination of Uchida and probably others.
[Here follows a summary of an article in the Journal des Nations for February 9, 1933, giving an account of the Drafting Committee’s meeting on February 8.]
- The Department replied by telegram No. 66, February 9, 6 p.m., as follows: “Except for such expression of appreciation as you may already have made, Department desires that no indication of any interest on the part of the American Government in this information be given.”↩