793.94/3668: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
Geneva, January 27, 1932—3
p.m.
[Received 4:50 p.m.]
[Received 4:50 p.m.]
43. Consulate’s No. 35, January 26, 4 p.m. The following developments have taken place respecting the Chinese position:
- 1.
- I have been reliably informed that Yen has received instructions to “get ready” to invoke articles 15 and 16 of the Covenant.
- 2.
- From various indications I am inclined to believe that the statement of “intentions” on the part of the Chinese is not a trial balloon but represents their genuine position.
- 3.
- Yen’s position
respecting an invocation of articles 15 and 16 is, however, that
he will not follow this course if he can obtain what he regards
as equivalent satisfaction in other directions. He is willing to
withhold invocation under the following conditions:
- (a)
- That the Japanese immediately cease all hostilities; i.e., not merely promise to do so.
- (b)
- That the Japanese make a concrete gesture of withdrawal; for example, give up the occupation of Chin-chow or retire their warships from Shanghai.
- (c)
- That the Council materially hasten the arrival in Manchuria of the Commission of Inquiry.
- (d)
- That the Council (or perhaps the leading Council powers) back up either directly or by a substantially similar démarche the American note of January 7.
- 4.
- Drummond is pessimistic respecting the possibility of persuading either Japan or the Council to take pertinent action.
- 5.
- China is considering as a possible alternative to the conditions [Page 77] listed in paragraph 3 above the entering into effect of the Nine-Power Treaty along the lines discussed in paragraph 1 (c) of the Consulate’s telegram under reference.
Gilbert