793.94 Advisory Committee/151: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Geneva (Bucknell)
57. Your 137, May 20, 11 a.m. For Harrison:44 Please in your discretion and if need arises say to the Chinese orally and in confidence that, in view of the legislative situation here and the established attitude of this country toward the League, it is our estimate that discussion by League agencies of Far Eastern problems could be held more advantageously without there being raised and involved the question of the presence of an American observer than with the raising and involving of that question. You might point out that in our opinion the participation through the presence of an American observer at meetings of League committees for the purpose of considering Far Eastern problems has always, necessarily, been restricted and has led to the raising of hypothetical questions to which no answers could be given. We feel that, in connection with the proposals which [Page 341] the Chinese have made to the League at this time, it would be unwise to raise any question which might obscure the fact that responsibility for League action rests with the League and responsibility for any action which this country might take rests with this country.
- Leland Harrison, Minister in Switzerland.↩