861.77 Chinese Eastern/540: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Schurman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:40 p.m.]
248. Your 95, December 1, 6 p.m.52 Curtius has just handed in writing German reply which in translation is as follows:
“The German Government has noted with deep appreciation the generous endeavors of the Government of the United States which have as their object to preserve peace, in accordance with the principles of the Kellogg Pact, between the conflicting parties in the Russo-Chinese conflict. The German Government which originally assumed the protection of the nationals of both countries has had several occasions, because of its special position towards both parties, to act in the same spirit on its own initiative. Thus it transmitted to the Soviet Government the Chinese proposals that a joint declaration be agreed upon by the opposing powers to put an end to the conflict. Furthermore on its own initiative the German Government made proposals for the exchange of prisoners of both countries in order in this way to reduce the cause of friction between them. The German Government for its part is determined to continue to do everything whereby it can contribute toward assuring that the Kellogg Pact is respected by the parties to the conflict. At the present moment the German Government has before it reports to the effect that direct negotiations for the peaceful composition of the conflict have been opened. As the German Government is not in possession of all the facts which would enable it to judge of the momentary status of these negotiations, it would like to reserve its decision as to the time and form of its further steps in the matter. Meanwhile it would express the hope that the démarche of the American Government may be successful, vis-à-vis the two Governments, in that the opposing parties desist in accordance with the obligations assumed under the Kellogg Pact from hostile measures for the achievement of their aims and that the direct negotiations may shortly lead to a peaceful settlement of the conflicts.”
Curtius feels that the German Government in the special position it occupies in relation to the Chinese-Russian difficulty is already carrying out, along its own established lines, the object you have in mind in suggesting that all signatories of the Paris Pact make communications to China and Russia urging a peaceful solution of [Page 377] their differences. Furthermore he told me that the German Government would make through Wolff’s Telegraph Bureau a public statement on the subject as soon as you have made your communication to the American press.