711.00 Statement July 16, 1937/10
Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Current Information (Bucknell)
At the press conference this afternoon the Secretary informed the correspondents that he had prepared a statement for the press1 which would be universally applicable to any disturbed situation anywhere in the world. In explanation and as Background for the statement he desired to inform the correspondents Off The Record that he had been in the receipt of various inquiries as to whether we have been asked to invoke the Nine Power Treaty1a or some other treaty to which we are parties which may or may not be affected by the Far Eastern situation. He explained that it is very difficult at this stage to know exactly what is taking place in China. We receive masses of despatches mixed with reports and rumors; we are not yet certain as to just what extent either or both sides are endeavoring to localize this controversy or just what the chances of success to this end may be; if efforts to localize the situation are not successful, we do not know at the moment what occasions there may be for conferences between the Central Chinese Government and Japanese officials. In any event, as the correspondents were aware, both the Chinese and Japanese authorities have been earnestly protesting any purpose on either part to bring about a general state of hostilities. He thought that the correspondents would agree that when the stage has been reached at which we would invoke the Nine Power Treaty such action would be the discrediting of present peaceful professions of either or both parties and furthermore we would then have passed the stage where we could use all our efforts to aid in any such peaceful adjustment as might be feasible and practicable. For these reasons, at the moment we are doing everything and saying everything that we can which is [Page 698] calculated to aid in encouraging a peaceful outcome of the present controversy.
A correspondent asked if what had been said above is for publication directly or indirectly. The Secretary replied in the negative and said that he had given this explanation in order that the correspondents might clearly understand why it is not feasible to step out and invoke the Nine Power Treaty before we have received the full facts of the situation and while both parties to the dispute are still protesting their peaceful purpose. Such action, he added, would negative all efforts for peace. Furthermore the prospects of the situation being kept peaceful will be seriously harmed when we in this country or officials in some other country step out ahead of the game and talk of invoking pacts before we have reached the stage of such invocation which may or may not be applicable to the situation. A correspondent again asked if this explanatory statement was definitely not for publication since he wanted to be sure there was no misunderstanding among the correspondents present. The Secretary replied that his explanation was not for publication, directly or indirectly, nor should the correspondents use it For Attribution. He added that if developments of the situation should justify it that he would talk with the correspondents again on the matter.
A correspondent asked if he was to understand that the Secretary’s prepared statement is of general application, or is he to understand that the statement does not have reference to the situation in the Far East. The Secretary replied that his statement applies universally.
A correspondent said that while he appreciated very much the Secretary’s explanation, correspondents are placed in an embarrassing position in view of the fact that the Chinese Ambassador and the Japanese Counselor visited the Department today and further in view of the fact that news appears to be coming in on the Far Eastern situation which would make it necessary for them to write some sort of a story. The Secretary said that he wanted to emphasize to the correspondents that no action has yet been taken by this Government with regard to the situation in China. A correspondent asked if he could go so far as to say that it was understood that the State Department was attempting to assist in reaching a peaceful adjustment of the Chinese controversy and was using its good offices to this end but were contemplating no further action. The Secretary replied that he doubted if this was just the way to write the story and continued Off The Record that we have not yet reached the stage where we have sufficient definite tangible facts on which to predicate deliberate conclusions with regard to the operation of the Nine Power Pact. He added that naturally, representatives of this Government have been exchanging views on all of these various phases since the very beginning [Page 699] of the trouble in China but that we have to await the moment that all the facts are carefully developed and analyzed before we could undertake to arrive at accurate decisions.
A correspondent asked if the Secretary would be good enough to read his statement to the press so that if any correspondents had any questions with regard to it they could ask them at once. The Secretary then read his statement which was in the form of a press release. The correspondents then said that his statement answered the questions they had in mind.
The Secretary still Off The Record repeated to the correspondents that we are striving earnestly to arouse and promote the spirit of peace wherever such action will be calculated to be most helpful and that incidentally we are striving to keep alive those basic relationships that must underlie a restored international order.
A correspondent asked if the Secretary could say whether or not we have received any requests or communication from Great Britain or other signatories of the Nine Power Pact requesting consultation or even suggesting consultation on the Far Eastern situation. The Secretary replied that he had nothing particularly new on this subject and added that he had given the correspondents a frank and full statement several days ago when he had described the nature of our appeals to both parties in the present controversy. He added that we are naturally informing Great Britain and other Governments of our statements and utterances and that they in turn are exchanging similar information with us.
The Secretary concluded the conference by informing the correspondents that he had repeated his viewpoint to both the Chinese Ambassador and the Japanese Counselor of Embassy when they had visited the Department today, to the effect that any major hostilities in the Far East would be a great blow to world peace and progress.
- Infra. ↩
- Treaty signed at Washington, February 6, 1922, Foreign Relations, 1922, Vol. i, p. 276.↩