793.94116/105: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Bucknell) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 28—1:55 p.m.]
247. The Chinese permanent delegate informs me that China will introduce the following resolution at the next meeting of the Council:
“The Council, having regard to the second part of its resolution adopted on May 14th 1938, which recalls that the use of toxic gases is a method of war condemned by international law, which cannot; fail, should resort be had to it, to meet with the reprobation of the civilized world, and requests the governments of states, who may be in a position to do so, to communicate to the League any information that they may obtain on the subject;
Taking note of the information contained in the various communications of the Chinese representative on the subject; and of his statement on the urgent need for the constitution of a commission of neutral observers in China to investigate the cases of the use of poisonous gas in China, watch the situation in respect thereto, and make reports for examination;
Invites the governments of the states represented on the Council and on the Advisory Committee having official representatives in China to instruct them to constitute themselves into a committee to conduct the necessary inquiry in consultation with the competent authorities of the Chinese Government, watch the situation in regard to resort to this illegal practice, and submit reports from time to time for examination and consideration.”