793.94/2027: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:30 p.m.]
165. 1. This morning Sze showed me telegram from Nanking (a) concerning bombing of Chinchow by Japanese aeroplanes, (b) concerning [Page 145] news from Chengchiatun that Japanese are arming Mongolians at Talingchen and at other points from supplies of Mukden arsenal and are inspiring a Mongolian independence movement. Sze will undoubtedly give the substance of this to the press.
2. Sze regards [Paraphrase.] as deliberately provocative these actions on the part of the Japanese military, and in this Drummond concurs.
3. Sherwood Eddy’s12 telegram from Tientsin also was shown me by Sze, reporting his presence at the capture of Mukden and including his testimony of Japanese endeavors to set up an independent regime; in Manchuria under Japanese military control. Sze requested that this be considered strictly confidential, since he does not wish Eddy to be known as the source of this information.
4. This morning Sze has urged upon Drummond, in the light of the above, that the Council be called forthwith (see the League Covenant’s article 11 and my 150, October 1, 9 a.m., paragraph 8 of the Council’s resolution)—in other words, prior to October 14.
Sze drew attention to the circumstance that the Japanese assurances to take no further action to aggravate the situation have not been fulfilled. He says Chinese public opinion is in such a state that it is essential for news of an early meeting of the Council to reach China as quickly as possible lest there be an outbreak against the Japanese. Sze is especially apprehensive of developments tomorrow during the Chinese national holiday. He declared also that the diplomatic language employed by the Council and by the powers is regarded by the Japanese military group as a weakness; he urged the use of stronger terms which would be understood by the Japanese military.
5. Drummond is hesitating between the necessity of quieting Chinese opinion through publishing an immediate summons of the Council and objections to calling the Council when there is at hand only conflicting information from Chinese and Japanese sources and no “neutral” information to serve in stabilizing the Council’s action. He most earnestly desires to have in his hands as soon as possible your information on the actual situation in Manchuria. [End paraphrase.]
- American author and former Y. M. C. A. secretary.↩