793.94/13023: Telegram

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

95. The Council this evening in public session passed unanimously (Poland abstaining) the following resolution:

[“]The Council,

Having heard the statement by the representative of China on the situation in the Far East and oil the needs of the national defense of China;

I. Earnestly urges members of the League to do their utmost to give effect to the recommendations contained in previous resolutions of the Assembly and Council in this matter, and to take into serious and sympathetic consideration requests they may receive from the Chinese in conformity with the said resolution;

Expresses its sympathy with China and her heroic struggle for the maintenance of her independence and territorial integrity, threatened by the Japanese invasion, and in the suffering which is thereby inflicted on her people.

II. Recalls that the use of toxic gases is a method of war condemned by international law, which cannot fail, should resort be had to it, to meet with the reprobation of the civilized world; and requests the governments of states who may be in a position to do so to communicate to the League any information that they may obtain on the subject.”

Koo said he accepted the resolution on the understanding that the Council remain seized of the Chinese appeal under articles 10, 11 and 17 of the Covenant. He made an appeal for “financial and material aid and facilities for purchase, transport and transit of arms and military supplies, facilities which should in no case be less than those which she enjoyed before the commencement of the present hostilities with Japan”.

Bonnet58 in supporting the resolution said that “acting in accordance with the Assembly resolution and with the resolutions of the Council, France has so far as was possible endeavored to give her aid to China and any recommendation which the Council may in this connection make to states members will be taken into very serious and sympathetic consideration by France”. He then referred to the intention [Page 506] of the French Government to make a considerable contribution to the anti-epidemic work in China and called attention to the protection already accorded Chinese refugees in the French Concession[s?].

Halifax59 likewise supported the resolution and referring to previous resolutions stated “His Majesty’s Government have done their best within the limits which the situation in the United Kingdom imposes upon them to implement to the full their obligations to China under these resolutions. I can assure Mr. Koo that His Majesty’s Government will continue as they have done in the past to give, in the words of our resolution today, serious and sympathetic consideration to any requests they may receive from the Chinese Government in conformity with these resolutions”. Council session was then closed.

At the close of the meeting Quo and Koo in private conversations expressed themselves as pleased with the result of the Council’s action, feeling that an advance had been made in their favor as compared with previous sessions, particularly as regards the statements of Bonnet and Halifax.

Koo informed Minister that Halifax had just told him that arrangements for credits mentioned in my No. 93, May 13, 6 p.m., would be concluded “in a manner satisfactory to the Chinese”.

Bucknell
  1. Henri Bonnet, French Minister for Foreign Affairs.
  2. Viscount Halifax, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.