793.94/5082: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received April 21—1:20 p.m.]
85 [86?]. For the Acting Secretary from the Secretary. Reference Shanghai’s April 21, 2 p.m. to you.76 I feel very strongly that if the resolution is adopted by the Committee of Nineteen there should be no reluctance expressed on the part of our Minister and the other Ministers to accept the responsibility which it involves. First it seems to be the only effective way of solving the deadlock in the evacuation. I have never been satisfied with the previous recommendations of the Ministers at Shanghai which seem to me weak. This paragraph of the resolution does not permit the Mixed Commission to set a date for completing the evacuation in advance but merely to state when in their opinion a time has actually arrived in which the Japanese troops can be safely withdrawn. This is a mere finding of fact peculiarly of a nature appropriate for the jurisdiction of such a commission and I think they would be unduly timid to refuse to accede such a responsibility.
If you agree please notify Johnson accordingly. [Stimson.]