861.77 Chinese Eastern/136: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Schurman)
Washington, July 26, 1929—6
p.m.
54. Your 134, July 24, 6 p.m.25
- 1.
- I am somewhat surprised at the belief of the correspondents that what has been done by me in consonance with the spirit of the General Pact for the Renunciation of War is not fully known. In my daily conferences with the Press I have indicated the course of events. There follows a brief résumé of what has transpired, which you may use as you think best.
- 2.
- On July 18, a diplomatic reception day, in conversation with the Chinese Minister, I invited his attention to the fact that China was signatory to the General Pact for the Renunciation of War and I said that, while I was without authentic information regarding what underlay the dispute between Russia and China, it would appear from Press statements that the claims on both sides were distinctly of a nature that would permit settlement by peaceful means, one or two of which I suggested [Page 250] as examples. I made remarks of the same tenor to the diplomatic representatives of France, Great Britain, Japan and Italy. In talking with the Chinese Minister, I urged, as a friend of China, that the Chinese Government should clearly state its pacific intentions and he said that he would communicate my remarks to his Government. To the French Ambassador I expressed the hope that his Government would make representations to Russia. The German Ambassador was not in Washington at that time but on July 23 I sent for the Secretary of the German Embassy and told him of the conversations I had had. I suggested that there were several pacific methods of settling the dispute between Russia and China and I said I would welcome any measure his Government might care to take to promote peace. I was informed by the Chinese Minister that China disclaimed any intention of taking hostile action except in case of self-defense. I was informed by the French Ambassador that the French Government had approached the Russian Government and had received assurances of its pacific intentions. In this matter I have enjoyed the hearty cooperation of France and the other Governments whose diplomatic representatives I consulted. Entire harmony has characterized the efforts of the different nations to encourage a pacific settlement by Russia and China of their present dispute. It is especially gratifying to the other friendly Powers participating in the General Pact for the Renunciation of War that Russia and China have thus decided upon a course of action consistent with the principles underlying the Pact.
Stimson
- Not printed.↩