793.94/10215: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
2. Reference is made to the Minister’s telegram No. 6 of September 23, 10 a.m.,45 in which was reported a suggestion for the setting up of a subcommittee of the League of Nations Assembly Advisory Committee on China.
The Secretary authorizes the Minister, in case he is invited to sit with the suggested subcommittee, to accept on condition that it be thoroughly understood his presence on such a subcommittee would be within the same conditions and terms under which the Minister is attending Advisory Committee meetings.
The Secretary remarks that the impression has been gained from some press reports from Geneva and the Minister’s telegrams concerning the subject that it may be the intention of some of the principal governments interested in setting up the subcommittee to place upon it representatives of states “most concerned” with the area of the Pacific Ocean and that the subcommittee, although not limited strictly to the signatories of the Washington conference treaties, for example, the Nine-Power Treaty on general policies and principles, might be made up largely of representatives of those states party to this latter pact. The Secretary questions whether the restricting of consideration of the existing situation in the Far East in the first instance to a group so limited would not be taking away from the broad effect and universal character of the attention merited by the presently occurring Far Eastern developments which concern, quite obviously, not only the nations interested in the Pacific area but also all other nations as well. The Secretary recalls his statement of July 16, already brought to the League’s attention by the Minister, giving the United States Government’s position respecting international situations and problems of concern to the United States. That statement, the Secretary feels justified in saying, accords with the position of most of the foreign governments as stated in communications from many of them to the Secretary in response to the issuance of his statement. In a public statement on August 23, reported that day by Radio Bulletin No. 196, the Secretary stated the firm opinion of his Government that international relationships should be effectively governed by the principles which he summarized in his statement of July 16. He stated also that these principles were considered to be applicable throughout the world, including the Pacific area; that his statement of July 16 was comprehensive and basic, and that the principles which were embodied in many treaties, such as the Kellogg-Briand [Page 374] Pact of 1928 and the Washington Conference treaties, were embraced therein.
An emphatic position has been taken by the United States Government regarding indiscriminate bombing from the air of Nanking and other non-military and unprotected Chinese places.46 Assistance has, furthermore, been offered in an effort to find some way to bring to an end the present hostilities and to find some peaceful means to compose the situation in the Far East.
The Secretary is of opinion that the nations could express themselves and take a position upon certain principles in regard to any particular development or situation which may arise—for example, the developments at present occurring in the Far East. There might be mentioned among these principles respect by all nations for the rights of others; performance by all nations of established obligations; upholding the principle of the sanctity of treaties; adjustment by peaceful negotiation and agreement of problems in international relations; and abstinence by all nations from using force in pursuit of policy and from interfering in the internal affairs of other nations. If peace is to be maintained, international relationships should be governed upon such broad basic principles.
The developments now taking place in China are and should be the concern of every nation which hopes to base its foreign relations upon the principles set forth in the Secretary’s statement of July 16. The Secretary is not able to see why a position could not be taken by any or all nations regarding the Sino-Japanese conflict from the viewpoint of their own interest in preserving peace and settling disputes by peaceful methods.
The Minister is informed of the foregoing for his guidance, and the Secretary does not wish either to give the impression or to suggest that the United States Government is attempting to take any initiative respecting the shaping of action the League of Nations may take. The Minister is instructed, in his conversations at Geneva with any representatives of governments with whom he feels it useful to discuss the subject, to refer to the principles as set forth in the Secretary’s statements of July 16 and August 23 and to take the position that the developments in the Far East are of a nature seemingly to concern all nations instead of those nations comprising a particular or special group. The Minister is advised to foster with discretion the idea that the entire question should be treated from the viewpoint of general world interest and concern and on the broadest possible basis.
The Minister is instructed to inform the Department fully and currently of developments at Geneva, including his conversations.