the creation of a situation which brings the applicability of treaty provisions into consideration. The American Government does not wish to be hasty in formulating its conclusions or in taking a position. However, the American Government feels that a very unfortunate situation exists, which no doubt is embarrassing to the Japanese Government. It would seem that the responsibility for determining the course of events with regard to the liquidating of this situation rests largely upon Japan, for the simple reason that Japanese armed forces have seized and are exercising de facto control in South Manchuria.

It is alleged by the Chinese, and the allegation has the support of circumstantial evidence, that lines of communication outward from Manchuria have been cut or interfered with. If this is true, it is unfortunate.

It is the hope of the American Government that the orders which it understands have been given both by the Japanese and the Chinese Governments to their military forces to refrain from hostilities and further movements will be respected and that there will be no further application of force. It is also the hope of the American Government that the Japanese and the Chinese Governments will find it possible speedily to demonstrate to the world that neither has any intention to take advantage, in furtherance of its own peculiar interests, of the situation which has been brought about in connection with and in consequence of this use of force.

What has occurred has already shaken the confidence of the public with regard to the stability of conditions in Manchuria, and it is believed that the crystallizing of a situation suggesting the necessity for an indefinite continuance of military occupation would further undermine that confidence.

H[ENRY] L. S[TIMSON]

3

793.94/2013

The Secretary of State to the Consul at Geneva (Gilbert)

[Telegram: Paraphrase]

WASHINGTON, October 9, 1931-6 p. m.

73. Consulate's 162, October 8 [7], 5 p. m. A memorandum in writing containing the following message from me dated as of October 5, 1931, may be handed by you to Sir Eric Drummond. This he may feel free to communicate confidentially to the Council members.

"I believe that our cooperation in the future handling of this difficult matter should proceed along the course which has been followed ever since the first outbreak of the trouble fortunately found the Assembly and Council of the League of Nations in session. The Council has deliberated long and earnestly on this matter and the Covenant of the League of Nations provides permanent and already tested machinery for handling such issues as between States members of the League. Both the Chinese and Japanese have presented and argued their cases before the Council and the world has been informed through published accounts with regard to the proceedings there. The Council has formulated conclusions and outlined a course of action to be followed by the disputants; and as the said disputants have made commitments to the Council, it is most desirable that the League in no way relax its vigilance and in no way fail to assert all the pressure and authority within its competence towards regulating the action of China and Japan in the premises.

On its part the American Government acting independently through its diplomatic representatives will endeavor to reinforce what the League does and will make clear that it has a keen interest in the matter and is not oblivious to the obligations which the disputants have assumed to their fellow signatories in the Pact of Paris as well as in the Nine Power Pact should a time arise when it would seem advisable to bring forward those obligations. By this course we avoid any danger of embarrassing the League in the course to which it is now committed."

4

STIMSON

793.94/2245a

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Japan (Neville)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, October 20, 1931-2 p. m.

200. Please deliver to the Minister for Foreign Affairs immediately, as a note, the text which follows. Inform him that an identical note is being communicated by the American Minister to China to the Chinese Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Text:

"The Government and people of the United States have observed with concern the events of the last month in Manchuria. When the

difference between Japan and China came to a head on September 19th one of the parties to the dispute referred the matter to the League of Nations and since that time the American Government by representations through diplomatic channels, has steadily cooperated with the League in its efforts to secure a peaceful settlement. A threat of war, wherever it may arise, is of profound concern to the whole world and for this reason the American Government, like other Governments, was constrained to call to the attention of both disputants the serious dangers involved in the present situation.

This Government now desires, as do other signatories of the Treaty for the Renunciation of War, particularly to call to the attention of the Japanese and the Chinese Governments the obligations which they voluntarily assumed when they became parties to that Treaty, especially the obligations of Article II, which reads:

"The High Contracting Parties agree that the settlement or solution of all disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise among them, shall never be sought except by pacific means.'

The American Government takes this occasion again to express its earnest hope that Japan and China will refrain from any measures which might lead to war and that they will find it possible in the near future to agree upon a method for resolving by peaceful means, in accordance with their promises and in keeping with the confident expectations of public opinion throughout the world, the issues over which they are at present in controversy."

STIMSON

793.94/3437a

5

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Forbes)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, January 7, 1932-noon. 7. Please deliver to the Foreign Office on behalf of your Government as soon as possible the following note:

"With the recent military operations about Chinchow, the last remaining administrative authority of the Government of the Chinese Republic in South Manchuria, as it existed prior to September 18th, 1931, has been destroyed. The American Government continues confident that the work of the neutral commission recently authorized

by the Council of the League of Nations will facilitate an ultimate solution of the difficulties now existing between China and Japan. But in view of the present situation and of its own rights and obligations therein, the American Government deems it to be its duty to notify both the Imperial Japanese Government and the Government of the Chinese Republic that it cannot admit the legality of any situation de facto nor does it intend to recognize any treaty or agreement entered into between those Governments, or agents thereof, which may impair the treaty rights of the United States or its citizens in China, including those which relate to the sovereignty, the independence, or the territorial and administrative integrity of the Republic of China, or to the international policy relative to China, commonly known as the open door policy; and that it does not intend to recognize any situation, treaty or agreement which may be brought about by means contrary to the covenants and obligations of the Pact of Paris of August 27, 1928, to which Treaty both China and Japan, as well as the United States, are parties."

State that an identical note is being sent to the Chinese government.

STIMSON

793.94/3902d

6

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Forbes)

[Telegram]

WASHINGTON, February 1, 1932-3 p. m.

34. You will please arrange to call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs at 6 o'clock evening, Tokyo time, February 2d, to deliver to him a note the text of which follows:

You will say to the Minister for Foreign Affairs by way of introduction that you have conveyed to the American Government his request made at your conference with him on January 31 to the effect "that he requested that the United States use its good offices to induce the Chinese troops not to bring up further reenforcements and to withdraw the troops now in Shanghai to a safe distance to avoid clashes." You will say that your Government has given earnest consideration to this request and in response suggests to the Japanese Government the following proposal for such cessation of hostilities. You will say that the same proposal is being submitted to the Chinese Government. You will then read him the following note and leave with him a copy of it.

"PROPOSAL OF THE POWERS FOR CESSATION OF CONFLICT

1. Cessation of all acts of violence on both sides forthwith on the following terms.

2. No further mobilization or preparation whatever for further hostilities between the two nations.

3. Withdrawal of both Japanese and Chinese combatants from all points of mutual contact in the Shanghai area.

4. Protection of the International Settlement by the establishment of neutral zones to divide the combatants. These zones to be policed by neutrals. The arrangements to be set up by the Consular authorities.

5. Upon acceptance of these conditions prompt advances to be made in negotiations to settle all outstanding controversies between the two nations in the spirit of the Pact of Paris and the Resolution of the League of Nations of December 9 [10], without prior demand or reservation and with the aid of neutral observers or participants."

The British Government is sending the British Ambassador similar instructions. The British Government is proposing to the French and the Italian Governments that they take similar action. In the event that those Governments decide favorably within time to make possible this presentation by their Ambassadors of like representations at the same time, you will be informed either through the Department or through your British colleague. Confer with the British Ambassador and arrange that you and he make your calls at the same time.

STIMSON

7

Press Releases, vol. VI, p. 147

Address Delivered by the Honorable Hugh S. Gibson, of the United States Delegation, at the General Disarmament Conference, Geneva, February 9, 1932

[Extracts]

The United States enters the first world conference on the limitation and reduction of armaments with the determination to leave nothing undone to achieve substantial progress.

The people of the United States have during the past generation played a useful and leading part in the movement for the limitation and reduction of arms. The Washington Conference of 1922 made