793.94 Advisory Committee/138: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Bucknell) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 29—4:20 p.m.]
23. My January 29, 4 p.m. Hoo, the Chinese permanent delegate, said this evening that he presumed that I had read both the first draft of the proposed Council resolution and the amendment. [Page 497] I said that I had. He asked if I could express any opinion as to the reaction of my Government. I explained that I was not in a position to express any opinion whatsoever.
Hoo then went on to say that the French had been insistent upon weakening the draft resolution and as far as he could see were not willing to do anything at the moment due to the fact that they feared an Italian belligerent act sometime in March. He said that as an excuse they kept repeating that they could not do anything because the United States was unfavorable toward any action and would be unwilling to cooperate in any way but that he was convinced that the real reason was that they were anxious about the European situation.
He said that Litvinoff had been very favorably disposed toward the Chinese case and that even the British had appeared disposed to do at least something but the French had been making all sorts of excuses and, in addition to saying that they were unable to move because of the United States’ attitude, had warned about the intransigent attitude that the Poles would adopt if any strong resolution were agreed upon.
He promised to keep me informed of any developments.
Eden is expected to leave Geneva tonight.
With reference to my telegram 20, January 29, noon, I am informed by a usually reliable source that Beck52 has left Geneva and that when the resolution is presented to the Council the Poles will abstain but will take the opportunity to protest against a procedure whereby the great powers decide an important matter in secret and then present the other members of the Council with a fait accompli.
- Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩