500.C1197/732
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Bingham )
The Secretary of State refers to the Ambassador’s telegram No. 276, dated May 25, 1934, 3 p.m.,15 stating that the Embassy had been informed informally by the Foreign Office that the British Government considered that no action at the moment was necessary in regard to the matter of a reply to communication No. C.L.27(a).1934.XI., dated March 16, 1934, from the Secretary General of the League of Nations15 which requested certain foreign governments to furnish for the use of the Opium Advisory Committee any information obtainable in regard to the traffic in opium and narcotic drugs in Manchuria and Jehol.
The Department has noted on pages 1081 and 1082 of the Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons, dated June 7, 1934, copies of which were transmitted to the Department by the Embassy under date June 12, 1934, that Sir John Simon16 made the following statement: [Page 359]
“His Majesty’s representatives in Manchuria will, in the ordinary course of their duties, report any information on this subject which comes to their knowledge. Any trustworthy information not of a confidential character will be communicated to the League in accordance with a request made by the council at its January meeting. Information of this character communicated by His Majesty’s Government or other Governments will no doubt be given publicity in the reports of the League. The answer to the last part of the question is therefore in the negative.”
The Department will appreciate receiving such information as the Embassy may be able to obtain with regard to (1) whether, subsequent to the Embassy’s telegram under reference, the British Government answered the League communication in question and, if so, the tenor of such reply; or (2) whether the British Government intends to comply in full or in part with the Secretary General’s request without making any written acknowledgment of the same.