861.77 Chinese Eastern/773
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (Johnson)
The Counselor of the Italian Embassy, Count Marchetti, came to see me today and stated that his Government had instructed him that the Chinese Minister had informed them that the Chinese Government was considering making an appeal to the League of Nations in regard to the invasion of China by Russia in the Chinese Eastern matter. He said that his Government told the Chinese that they thought this was a proper act and that frankly speaking they would be very glad to participate in any consideration of the matter the League might take. Marchetti stated that since receiving that information he had read the newspapers here which indicated that the situation was very serious and he wondered whether the situation had changed.
I told Marchetti that so far as I knew it had not changed; that so far as we were concerned we had no objection to the Chinese taking the matter up with the League, if they so desired; that we hoped they would be able to find some peaceful solution, if such could be found.