Office of the Historian

793.94/2827: Telegram

The Chargé in France (Shaw) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]
Paris, November 23, 1931—2 p.m. [a.m.]
[Received November 23—12:08 a.m.]

782. From Ambassador Dawes: Sweetser comments upon the day’s activities of the League as follows:

In conferences between Simon, Drummond, and finally Briand, there was drafted and approved a draft resolution which embraces the various points in the current conflict, such as the cessation of hostilities, Japanese evacuation, and the proposal of a commission (see Embassy’s 779, November 22, 8 p.m.). This draft will be presented at 10:30 a.m. to a private meeting of 12 Council members, exclusive of China and Japan. Briand does not feel he is justified in presenting it immediately to the parties without first having it approved by his colleagues. He feels also that their approval would lend great weight to the draft and that this matter should be settled at the earliest moment possible.

As regards the Japanese, two difficulties are foreseen: First, the phraseology concerning the cessation of hostilities and evacuation is thought to be far more precise than the Japanese would wish. In this connection, Yoshizawa, without, however, having seen this text, saw Briand in the afternoon and expressed hesitation as to any suggestion of an armistice. He said it was very hard to know what might occur in Manchuria; throughout the territory there were many brigands and armed bands, and there might be another concentration even such as the one at Tsitsihar. In such contingencies the Japanese would need freedom to take necessary action.

Second, the Japanese formula for the commission’s competence would appear to give this body power to discuss nearly every question of Far Eastern international relations. In the afternoon Matsudaira explained to Simon that he would like to have the commission able to consider any international problem, but Simon explained this to be quite impossible insofar as British interests were affected. Later Briand expressed the same point of view concerning French interests. Consequently the draft resolution to be presented tomorrow was so worded as to avoid this difficulty.

  • [Dawes]
  • Shaw