793.94/4589d: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham)
77. For the Minister: My 71, March 3, 5 p.m.
1. I am informed from Geneva that a meeting of the Plenary Assembly has passed unanimously (including both parties to the dispute) the following resolution:
“The Assembly recalling the suggestions made by the Council on the 29th February and without prejudice to the other measures therein envisaged;
- 1.
- Calls upon the Governments of China and Japan to take immediately the necessary measures to ensure that the orders which, as it has been informed, have been issued by the military commanders on both sides for the cessation of hostilities, shall be made effective;
- 2.
- Requests the other powers which have special interests in the Shanghai Settlements to inform the Assembly of the manner in which the invitation set out in the previous paragraph has been executed;
- 3.
- Recommends that negotiations be entered into by the Chinese and Japanese representatives with the assistance of the military, naval and civilian authorities of the powers mentioned above for the conclusion of arrangements which shall render definite the cessation of hostilities and regulate the withdrawal of the Japanese forces. The Assembly will be glad to be kept informed by the powers mentioned above of the development of these negotiations.”
[Paraphrase.] I am informed further by Wilson that it is morally certain that action along the line already taken by this Government in the January 7th [8th] note37 will be taken by the Assembly. [End paraphrase.]
2. I understand that the proposed conference is to be based on the following principles: (a) China freely consents to such a conference; (b) the discussions of the conference are to be limited to the question of terminating hostilities, evacuating military forces and immediate reestablishment of peace in the Shanghai area. My understanding is that Japan has agreed to the provisions reported in the Department’s No. 66 of March 1, 12 p.m. to Shanghai,38 including the restriction that “Japan has no political or territorial designs and no intention of establishing a Japanese settlement in Shanghai or of otherwise advancing the exclusive interests of the Japanese”; and that the whole proposal is aimed at the immediate reestablishment of peace in the Shanghai area without prejudice to or qualification of any position previously taken by the League or any Power in relation to Sino-Japanese affairs and that the cooperation of the Powers is invoked [Page 210] and is forthcoming for the common purpose of stopping armed conflict and restoring peace. [Paraphrase.] This means, in my opinion, that any proposals which may go outside the limits of those provisions are not to be given consideration. In my opinion, this applies also to any attempt to effect permanent changes in the International Settlement boundaries or to bring about at China’s expense any other changes which other powers, motivated by self-interest, may be advancing individually or collectively.
3. Recapitulating, the American Government in approving this plan has taken the position, and in conferences at Geneva between Wilson and leaders of the Assembly reaffirmed it, that discussion at the proposed conference should be restricted to questions relating to the liquidation of the military situation at Shanghai and no question should be taken up which relates to changes of a permanent character. To be specific, any question relating to the subject of a pacific boycott should not be brought up without China’s consent at any conference in which we participate. If the Japanese wish to take up any subjects of that nature, it is my view that they must raise them at a subsequent conference dealing with the entire controversy between Japan and China, including the Manchurian problem, and at a time when the settlement of such controversies can take place minus the pressure of Japanese military occupation.
4. Provided it is clear that the conference is to be conducted according to the principles and provisions outlined above, you and military and naval authorities of the United States are authorized by me to participate. [End paraphrase.]