793.94 Advisory Committee/40: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Wilson), at Geneva
98. 1. Under date May 4 London telegraphed in part as follows:
“Foreign Office said this afternoon that the British representative at Geneva had been instructed to bring before the Advisory Committee on the Sino-Japanese conflict the question of recognition of import licenses for opium issued by Manchukuo Government. He said that his Government might see the possibility that such recognition might be construed in certain quarters as recognition Manchukuo, but that it is impressed by the possibility that refusal by narcotic exporting countries to recognize Manchukuo import licenses would tend to drive the opium traffic underground but, in view of difficulties which might arise during transit of opium shipments to Manchukuo, he believed that it would be desirable to obtain uniform practice.”
2. The Department is of the opinion that adherence to and observance of the principle of non-recognition (as expressed by the Assembly of the League in its resolution of February 24 and by the American Government on numerous occasions) is much more vital and important than an attempt to regularize in theory and in form shipments of narcotic drugs to and from Manchukuo. Moreover, the Department is not inclined to be impressed by the British apprehension that refusal by narcotics exporting countries to recognize Manchukuo import licenses would embarrass to any appreciable degree the international problem of narcotics control.
3. With regard to the narcotics aspects of this matter, the Department desires that you consult Fuller,26 who is due to arrive Geneva May 8, and that he telegraph Department his views.
4. With exception of consulting Fuller and of reporting if the matter is otherwise brought to your attention, Department does not desire that you take any action or initiative in the matter at this time.
- Stuart J. Fuller, Assistant Chief, Division of Far Eastern Affairs, Department of State; representative in expert and advisory capacity, League of Nations Advisory Committee on Traffic in Opium and Other Dangerous Drugs, Geneva.↩