793.94 Commission/822: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 21—1:30 p.m.]
54. In conformity with forecasts in previous telegrams the procedure in the special Assembly which met this afternoon was confined to a speech by Hymans in which, after a detailed résumé of the Sino-Japanese case before the League, he treated the important question of the “end of conciliation” in the following terms:
“The procedure of conciliation is of course not yet closed. It cannot be formally closed until the adoption by the Assembly of the report provided for in article 15, paragraph 4, of the Covenant. I hesitate, however, to make a new appeal with a view to the conciliation for it would be necessary not only that fresh proposals which the Assembly could accept should be made to it but also that it should receive the assurance that the existing situation would not be aggravated and that fresh military operations would not be undertaken.”
His proposal that the discussion of the draft report of the Committee of Nineteen should be begun by the Assembly on February 24 was adopted.