793.94/10291: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 28—6 a.m.]
11. My telegram No. 9, September 27, 3 p.m. At the meeting of the Advisory Committee last evening the Chairman announced that Germany and Japan had refused the invitation to participate and Australia and China had accepted. Two further Chinese notes on bombing were communicated.
[Page 38]Koo in public meeting urged denunciation of aggression, aerial bombardment, violation of international law and treaty obligations. He referred to American and British statements against bombing noncombatants, denied that the Chinese had used gas and asked the Committee to study measures which could be recommended under the League.
An immediate expression on bombing was therefore strongly proposed by Cranborne, fully seconded by Delbos and supported by Sandler, Sweden,60 and Litvinov.61 The resolution as adopted was as follows:
“The Advisory [Committee],
Taking into urgent consideration the question of the aerial bombardment by Japanese aircraft of open towns in China, expresses its profound distress at the loss of life caused to innocent civilians, including great numbers of women and children, as a result of such bombardments, and declares that no excuse can be made for such acts which have aroused horror and indignation throughout the world, and solemnly condemns them.”
The Chairman will forward the resolution to the President of the Assembly with a view to its adoption also by that body.