Office of the Historian

793.94/2814: Telegram

The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

Nanking, November 22, 1931—1 a.m.
[Received November 21—10:30 p.m.]
[1.]
Koo called on me November 21, 10:30 p.m., and informed me that his Government was informed that a public session of the League Council was even then about to open at which a resolution would be introduced providing for a method of dealing with controversy in Manchuria. He said Briand had informed Sze of salient features of the proposed resolution under the following headings:
  • Number 1. The League would send a commission to Manchuria which should not be related to evacuation but would continue for a more or less indefinite time for the purpose of investigating pending questions; during this time the resolution of September 30 would remain in force;
  • Number 2. The commission would be composed of Europeans and an American to be sent at the earliest date;
  • Number 3. The commission would deal with any question which might be raised by any member of the League (Briand pointed out to Sze that this would give China an opportunity to raise any point which it might desire to submit for investigation).
  • Number 4. Briand observed that even if China were to invoke article 15 of the League Covenant a commission similar to that proposed would still have to be appointed.
  • Number 5. Briand expressed the opinion that the presence of this commission on the spot would quiet the situation in Manchuria and Japan would be obliged to evacuate the occupied areas in 4 or 5 months.
  • Number 6. Briand hoped that China would not oppose this proposal since it would establish certain principles, and details could be worked out subsequently.
  • Number 7. In the resolution the Council would ask for the immediate cessation of hostilities and for speedy evacuation, but without fixing a time limit, and the Council would insist on an understanding by Japan not to extend the areas of occupation.
  • Number 8. If the resolution were adopted the Council would adjourn to reassemble subject to the call of any member of the League Council.
Koo told me that Sze was led to believe that Japan had indicated its readiness to accept a resolution of this character.
2.
Koo informed me that the Chinese Government had already telegraphed to Sze that this proposal was not acceptable to China and [Page 528] that a counterproposal was being worked out which would be sent to him very shortly. The Chinese Government’s chief grounds of objection to the proposal were that it was vague in its terms, it provided no time limit for evacuation, and it provided no method of bringing China and Japan together for a general settlement of outstanding questions.
3.
Koo then described to me the principal features of the counterproposal which had been drafted and accepted by important members of the Special Commission on Foreign Relations and would undoubtedly be passed by the Commission November 22. These features were as follows:
  • Number 1. It provides for the immediate cessation of hostilities.
  • Number 2. It stipulates for the evacuation of occupied territory within a fixed period.
  • Number 3. China is to give assurances for the security of Japanese life and property in Manchuria.
  • Number 4. The League will “arrange for” a commission of neutral observers to supervise evacuation and the taking over of evacuated territory (note: Koo pointed out that the League would “arrange for” and not “appoint” the commission, thus permitting the participation of powers not members of the League).
  • Number 5. China and Japan will reaffirm the principle of respect for treaty obligations including the League Covenant, the Anti-War Pact, and the Nine-Power Treaty on principles.
  • Number 6. It will stipulate that China and Japan shall enter into immediate discussions, in the presence of the neutral observers, on the following questions: (a) Details of evacuation and reoccupation, (b) measures to safeguard Japanese life and property in Manchuria.
  • Number 7. All questions between China and Japan relating to Manchuria will be discussed and determined by a conference of interested powers which will be jointly convoked by the United States and the League, with the following principles serving as the basis for discussion and settlement: (a) Safeguarding peace in the Far East, (b) the promotion of the economic development of Manchuria through international cooperation, (c) removing causes of misunderstanding between China and Japan.
4.
Koo remarked that on several occasions the League Council had been guided by what it understood to be the attitude of the American Government in regard to a given proposal and he said that on this account the Chinese Government was most anxious to learn at the earliest possible date whether the Chinese counterproposal outlined above would receive the support of the Government at Washington. He therefore urged that I inform the Department immediately regarding the nature of the counterproposal and that I give this information to him when received. He stated that the Chinese Government would welcome any comments or suggestions which the Department might desire to make.
5.
I suggested to Koo that Sze be instructed to communicate this information to Ambassador Dawes in Paris and Koo asked that Dawes be informed of the Department’s attitude for communication to Sze.
Johnson