793.94 Conference/1
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom understand that the President of the Assembly of the League of Nations, following on a recommendation by the Advisory Committee concerned with the Sino-Japanese dispute, is to-day addressing a letter to the members of the League who are parties to the Nine-Power Treaty inviting them to initiate consultation as soon as possible. The Advisory Committee have expressed the hope that the other States having special interests in the Far East would be associated with the States who are members of the League in such consultation.
This seems, in the view of His Majesty’s Government, to leave open the decision as to how consultation should be organised. In this connexion His Majesty’s Government would be glad to learn as soon as possible any views which the United States Government may have as to how effect should be given to the invitation of the President of the Assembly. Among the points to be considered is the question as to how further invitations should be issued, what form they should take, and where a conference (which is in the view of His Majesty’s Government clearly necessary) should take place.
If the United States Government felt able themselves to call the conference, or were willing that it should take place in Washington, His Majesty’s Government would for their part warmly concur.
In the opinion of His Majesty’s Government it seems clear that, in accordance with the hope expressed by the Advisory Committee, the Government of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics should be invited to take part in the proposed consultation. They presume further that it would be for consideration whether an invitation should also be addressed to the German Government.