893.48/1608: Telegram

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

164. My telegram 143, June 28, 6 p.m.60

1.
Smets61 informs me that it has been decided not to convene ail early meeting of Committee for Technical Collaboration with China to consider Chinese request. A meeting will be held probably in September to consider matter.
2.
Chinese have now further requested that League undertake work of planning necessary conservancy measures to control floods resulting from destruction of dykes of Yellow River which are seriously affecting provinces of Anhwei, Honan and Kiangsu. The Chinese communication states that occupation of part of these areas by Japanese forces greatly hampers efforts of Chinese Government for conservation and relief measures. The latest Chinese request has been referred to the Committee for Communications and Transit now in [Page 507] session for a preliminary opinion as to the technical conditions in which such a task if accepted could be undertaken under responsibility of the League.
3.
Smets pointed out that both the Chinese and Japanese accuse the other of having destroyed the dykes and said that in his private opinion it would be difficult for the League to undertake this work because of (1) political considerations; (2) the lack of sufficient technical information to enable League engineers to draw up a sound plan and (3) a lack of funds.
Bucknell
  1. Not printed.
  2. Charles E. Smets, member of the League Secretariat, Economic and Financial Section.