793.94/6638: Telegram (part air)
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 3—8:06 a.m.]
64. Consulate’s No. 61, April 28, 11 a.m. paragraph 1 (a).
1. The current League relationship to the Far Eastern situation centers almost entirely in the “Rajchman question” which although very involved largely comprises the following factors:
- (a)
- The responsible Secretariat authorities maintain that the League’s assistance to China is solely of a technical character and concomitantly that any activities which may have extended beyond the technical field have not been under the authority of the League and thus have been improperly conducted;
- (b)
- This matter is, however, thrown into the political field by allegations against Rajchman which appear to have been made publicly by the Japanese. Thus Rajchman emerges as a symbol.
The political angle thus arises from the contention that although the League project of assistance to China was begun before Sino-Japanese dispute arose (Consulate’s despatch 471, political, January 17, 193384) and although Rajchman’s present mandate is most specifically technical (Paris Embassy despatch No. 121, July 20, 193384) the present plan of assistance derives morally from recommendation 10 of the Assembly report of February 24, 193385 (Consulate’s despatch No. 528, political, February 27, 193384). The basic value of such assistance is thus the promotion of a strong central government in China which it is alleged the Japanese do not desire for political reasons. The burden of proof should therefore be thrown upon Japan for interpreting as political an activity in China which in any other state would be merely an appropriate assistance of value to the rest of the world as well as to the country concerned.
2. The contentions just presented are supported by a large body of opinion in Geneva including a number of League officials. The possibility of this becoming a political issue nevertheless would apparently lie chiefly in its strong emphasis by the press. A number of press representatives here express the present intention [of] keeping this issue very much alive and their attitude is to brush aside any juridical aspects and take the broad position that in face of Japanese demands a repudiation of Rajchman would mean a repudiation of the entire plan of assistance which could only be interpreted as a final abnegation by the League of its entire position [in the] Sino-Japanese matter.
[Page 151]3. I informally discussed the foregoing with Haas, Secretary of the Council Committee, in the light of press accounts, who informs me as follows:
- (a)
- The Rajchman report has been received in Geneva and will probably be issued by May 7. It will be simultaneously released in Nanking. Rajchman has been advised by the Secretariat to make an advanced copy available to the Department during his stay in the United States. It is not known here whether this has been done.
- (b)
- Rumors current that the Rajchman original report embodying many political aspects has been amended in the Secretariat to circumvent Japanese allegations are completely without foundation. Secretariat has no authority over the report, Secretary General being merely a transmitting agency between Rajchman and the Council committee. Haas characterized the report as entirely technical. Its financial clauses solely concern the administration and utilization of funds and contain nothing respecting a source of funds or financial negotiations.
- (c)
- Nothing is known by Secretariat respecting Rajchman’s “political” activities in China other than the Japanese allegations.
- (d)
- The atmosphere of the report reflects, however, a broad policy of “emancipating China” and promoting its “self-development”.
- (e)
- The exceedingly delicate situation for the League as described in paragraph 2 above is fully recognized by Secretariat. They, however, perceive it as becoming technically a League issue only through Japan’s making formal allegations through a demand by Rajchman for vindication or through some action which the Council Committee might in the circumstances feel impelled to take. The matter is seen, nevertheless, as divorced from the Secretariat itself and one for the powers on the committee who may have pertinent information to present.
- (f)
- Secretariat is unaware of any formal allegations by Japan against Rajchman although press despatches have carried implications that statements of that character have been made by responsible Japanese officials.
4. I am informed that although the Secretary General has been in Geneva for some days Yokoyama has not seen him and has thus not carried out his intentions as expressed to me which I described in my telegram 55, April 24, 2 p.m. This might be construed to the effect that Japan will avoid the issue which would be created by making formal allegations. In association with this there is a strong rumor current of broader political interest to the effect that Tokyo has instructed Yokoyama that he went too far in his written statement and particularly in his interview with the press.