793.94/10336: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 30—9:49 a.m.]
16. Advisory [Committee] met in public session this afternoon. I read your public statement of yesterday. French delegate then proposed that subcommittee be set up to facilitate and expedite work of the Committee. His proposal was seconded by Cranborne who in set speech outlined attitude and action of the British Government during the present controversy based on policy of maintaining peace which “calls essentially for the fullest international cooperation” and “which demands above all the establishment of a friendly understanding between China and Japan.” British Government could not “accept the thesis that this is a matter affecting only the parties to the conflict.” It is a matter affecting “in greater or less degree many powers with interests in the Far East, whether members of the League or not.” British Government has made continued efforts to bring about settlement of the dispute. Since the beginning “there has been close and constant communication” with other powers specially interested in the Far East “and in many of the steps which were taken [Page 47] the cooperation of other powers was in greater or lesser degree secured.” Efforts to secure the cessation or moderation of the conflict have failed. “It would do no good, it would indeed do harm if the Committee gave the impression that it contemplated action which it was not in fact able to carry out.” But efforts must not be relaxed, a vigilant watch must be kept. Brace’s proposal for a conference of Pacific powers should be kept constantly in mind, Consulate’s 323, September 21, 5 p.m. The British Government “would certainly be ready to concur in it if all other powers principally interested were also ready to agree.” In conclusion Cranborne proposed that the subcommittee should have the same terms of reference as the Advisory Committee.
Koo requested that aggression should be dealt with by the full Committee and that measures to discourage aggression and to encourage resistance should be considered by the subcommittee, which he accepted, provided it was not used to replace the full Committee. He suggested that the subcommittee should not be too large or too reduced in view of the world-wide importance of the question. He also asked that it be as representative as possible of the full Committee and that it should not be purely regional in character.
The Committee then voted to set up a subcommittee, the representative of Canada abstaining from voting in the absence, he said, of instructions.
A discussion then ensued respecting the terms of reference for the subcommittee. No agreement was reached and it was decided to lay down instructions for the subcommittee at the next meeting tomorrow when the Chairman said he would also submit proposals as to its composition.
After the meeting Chairman Munters asked me privately if I would sit on the subcommittee. I replied that if I were invited to do so, I had been authorized to attend on the same terms and conditions under which I am attending the meetings of the Committee. He then asked for my views respecting the composition of the subcommittee. I replied that naturally I felt some hesitation as I did not wish to give the least impression that I was making any suggestion regarding the action to be taken by the Committee. This he said he fully understood and that he wished to know for his own information how I felt with regard to Koo’s suggestion. I then referred to the broad principles set forth in your statements and said that since obviously the matter was of general interest and concerned general world peace it might be thought preferable to have if possible the subcommittee composed of a group representative of general rather than of particular interests. Munters then said he agreed but Great Britain, France, and Russia would, he felt sure, have to be on the subcommittee; that there was also [Page 48] the question of the inclusion of China as well as other powers with direct interest and consequently he foresaw considerable difficulty in keeping the membership within a working limit.