793.94/10079: Telegram

The Consul at Geneva (Bucknell) to the Secretary of State

297. From Harrison. Consulate’s 272, September 9, 7 p.m.; and 296, September 14, 10 p.m.,23 on Chinese appeal. In his address before Assembly today Wellington Koo concluded as follows:

“In short, the Far East situation, on account of its utmost gravity, calls for urgent action by the League. The Chinese Government has formally appealed to the Council, invoking articles 10, 11, and 17 of the Covenant. It is now for the Council to decide whether to proceed itself to consideration and action at once or to seize the Assembly at the same time of the question or to refer it first to the Advisory Committee on the Sino-Japanese conflict set up by the Assembly of February 24, 1933.”

Hoo this morning again inquired of Bucknell as to our attitude regarding reconstitution of and participation in Advisory Committee. [Page 19] He again intimated that if it would embarrass us or prejudice our attitude towards China’s case, he would probably not press matter in Council tomorrow. If we should now decide against participation or would prefer that Committee should not be reconstituted, any intimation to this effect to Hoo might in all likelihood prevent proposed action by Chinese tomorrow.

At this time in my own best judgment we should maintain our entire freedom of action with a view to the restoration of peace in the Far East and refrain from association in any League activities since probabilities are that if we should participate, attempt might be made to place onus of any outcome on us. [Harrison.]

Bucknell
  1. Latter not printed.