793.94 Commission/46a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton)
40. Please convey the following to Lord Lytton from General McCoy:
“General McCoy feels that an adequate personal staff for each Commissioner is essential to the performance of their duties on this important mission of inquiry into the Japanese-Chinese dispute. Its scope seems to be enlarging with gradually increasing responsibilities. General McCoy believes that under the present arrangements it will be impossible for the individual Commissioners adequately to study, compile and analyze the mass of data and information necessary to arriving at intelligent and accurate opinions and conclusions or to conduct such individual reconnaissances or special investigations in the outlying districts as are certain to be necessary in the course of the Commission’s inquiry. [”]
For your own personal information and guidance, I concur with General McCoy in the belief that a personal staff for each Commissioner is essential to the proper performance of their duties if, as it appears, it is intended that the Commission’s inquiry should be thorough and complete. Furthermore, I feel strongly that the individual commissioners should not be expected to bear the expenses involved in providing a necessary personal staff, but that such expense should be borne by the League. Will you submit General McCoy’s views to Lord Lytton with the suggestion that he submit this important matter of personal staffs for the Commissioners to the President of the League Council for reconsideration. In doing so, avoid making this seem to be an official representation from this Government. Explain to Lord Lytton that General McCoy had planned to take this important matter of personal staffs up with him personally while in Washington. This seems impossible in view of recent information to the effect that the Commissioners will proceed direct to Shanghai.