793.94/13984
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Moffat)
The Chinese Ambassador called to say goodbye. He pointed out that China was appealing for League assistance against Japan under Article 17 of the Covenant, and added that he had received instructions to try and persuade the American Government either through approaching the British and French Council Delegates at Geneva, or the British and French Foreign Offices to support the Chinese position [Page 513] at the League. I told the Ambassador that while I would, of course, report his request to my superiors nonetheless I saw little chance of its being favorably acted on as we were not members of the League and had always made it a point carefully to refrain from advocating any procedure on a member of the League under the Constitution of that body. He asked if Mr. Harrison were not sitting with the Council as observer. I told him no, that he was in Geneva, that he was a member of the Committee of twenty-eight, that his Deputy was a member of the Committee on Technical Aid to China but that he did not sit with the Council in any way except on one occasion when he would meet with them to cast his vote on the composition of the Permanent Opium Board.
The Ambassador said he was also going to mention his plea to other officials in the Department but had brought it up with me also as the League of Nations fell within the purview of the Division of European Affairs.