861.77 Chinese Eastern/516: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in France (Armour)
393. You are directed immediately to request of the Foreign Office that it convey on behalf of the American Government to the Soviet Government the statement herewith and that it inform the Soviet Government that the same statement is being communicated to the National Government of China through the American Legation at Peiping.
“The Government and people of the United States have observed with apprehensive concern the course of events in relations between China and Russia in the phase which has developed in reference to the situation in Northern Manchuria since July 10. On July 18 this Government took steps, through conversations between the Secretary of State and the diplomatic representatives at Washington of five Powers, to see that the attention of the Chinese and the Russian Governments be called to the provisions of the Treaty for the Renunciation of War, to which both China and Russia were signatories. Both the Russian and Chinese governments then made formal and public assurances that neither would resort to war unless attacked. Since that time that Treaty has been ratified by no [Page 368] less than fifty-five Powers, including China and Russia. The American Government desires again to call attention to the provisions of the Treaty for the Renunciation of War, particularly to Article II, which reads, ‘The High Contracting Parties agree that the settlement or solution of all disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise, among them, shall never be sought except by pacific means’; and the American Government takes occasion to express its earnest hope that China and Russia will refrain or desist from measures of hostility and will find it possible in the near future to come to an agreement between themselves upon a method for resolving by peaceful means the issues over which they are at present in controversy. The American Government feels that the respect with which China and Russia will hereafter be held in the good opinion of the world will necessarily in great measure depend upon the way in which they carry out these most sacred promises.”