793.94/2015: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Geneva (Gilbert)
[Paraphrase]
Washington, October 10, 1931—6
p.m.
78. Your 160, October 7, 1 p.m. (section 3). Please inform Drummond of the following:
- (1)
- Reports on the Chinese-Japanese situation warrant grave concern, and again I have urged upon both Governments that their countries should exercise great self-restraint and try to live up to the commitments expressed in the Council’s resolution of September 30.
- (2)
- I assume the League Council will meet no later than October 14 and will immediately turn its attention to the China-Japan situation.
- (3)
- As the situation appears to me, each disputant has a good many and ever-increasing grounds for complaint against and irritation at the other. Unquestionably they should negotiate a settlement, but the way the situation is developing the Chinese and Japanese are proceeding in the direction of warlike rather than of peaceful measures. So the question arises as to whether it has not become necessary to remind the disputants formally of their obligations under the Treaty for the Renunciation of War. As this situation has occupied the League from the outset, it has been my feeling that invocation of the Anti-War Pact should be held in reserve, but now I am inclined to think that the unfortunate events of the past few days appear to make the necessity of resorting to the Pact imminent. An expression of Drummond’s views would be welcome in regard to how attention may most promptly and effectively be called to this treaty’s obligations in the event of such action becoming necessary.21 Should this question come up at the coming Council meeting, you are authorized, if you are invited, to take part in the discussion thereon.
Drummond should for the present consider the foregoing as confidential.
Stimson
- Sir Eric Drummond’s personal views were reported by the Consul at Geneva in his telegram No. 179, October 11, 11 p.m.; not printed (793.94/2058).↩