793.94/10284: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 27—1:32 p.m.]
9. Your 2, September 24, 7 [6] p.m. Saw Cranborne last evening. Gave him your reply respecting acceptance invitation to sit on subcommittee if set up and explained your views as to proposed membership of subcommittee and desirability that question be dealt with on broadest possible basis. Cranborne said he particularly appreciated this information and was impressed with force thereof.
Chinese, he said, would make statement before subcommittee this afternoon and might themselves propose setting up subcommittee. I said that I had heard that Chinese were going to demand that Japanese be formally declared aggressors. Would this not be first step along road to article 17 which Eden had wished to avoid, see Consulate’s 302, September 16, 5 p.m.? What did he think would be terms of reference to subcommittee? Would it be along the lines of general statement of broad principles as contained in your statements of July 16 and August 23 and I mentioned briefly those stated in paragraph 6 of your telegram under reference. He seemed to favor the idea of such a broad general position. It occurred to me, I said, that if subcommittee were merely to carry out directives of full Committee then in that event a small drafting committee might suffice.
Cranborne also said that the Advisory Committee might this afternoon consider some declaration respecting Japanese bombardment of unfortified cities. However, most of meeting would be taken up with Chinese statement and general discussion.
Have seen Delbos. He was, he said, in entire accord with your views but, in private meeting just concluded with the British and Chinese, Koo had insisted on some positive action with a view to restricting shipment of certain raw materials and credit facilities to Japan. They had persuaded Koo not to make demand although Koo would probably touch upon that point in his statement this afternoon. They had agreed to set up the subcommittee where it would be [possible?] that such suggestions should be considered. Delbos explained that subcommittee would expedite work and report in every case to full Committee where final action would be taken. Delbos also told me that if it can be done Koo would propose resolution by Committee condemning Japanese bombardment of undefended towns, that French and British would support such a resolution, that a text would be immediately prepared and voted by the Committee. [Page 37] I referred to the position taken in your note to Japan58 but explained that I did not vote.
- Dated September 22, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 504.↩