793.94/1958: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:55 p.m.]
151. Consulate’s 150, October 1, 9 a.m. After the Council’s session concluded late yesterday the Secretary-General gave Minister Wilson the following exposition of his views and information:
[Page 99]Drummond said that Yoshizawa’s statement in the Council meeting suggesting that all Council members transmit to the Secretary-General any information obtainable from the disturbed area had resulted from a long and continued pressure by the Council upon the Japanese and was the nearest the Japanese could be brought to the acceptance of any form of independent information from Manchuria. Yoshizawa felt his making this statement was a very great concession. It is learned, incidentally, that already a British military attaché is on the spot, having proceeded to Manchuria on his own responsibility and without orders as soon as he heard of the trouble. Drummond expressed the hope that there may be made available to him any pertinent information which the American Government may find it wise to let him have.
In the speech of the President of the Council the portion concerning the offer of help, should it be desired, was phrased very carefully, this also being the result of a lengthy struggle with the Japanese. It was purposely left vague before beginning negotiations in view of the insistence by the Chinese that to invoke help it should be sufficient if one party to the dispute requests it.
Drummond stated in the strictest confidence that several times the Chinese had threatened that they might conclude a Soviet alliance if the League failed to get results in this matter. From the Japanese, also very confidentially, Drummond learned on the other hand that the Japanese have been talking with the U. S. S. R. and anticipate no difficulty. It is possible, Drummond added, that the Chinese and Russians were discussing an alliance without entertaining any thought of direct action in Manchuria. In Drummond’s opinion, for the moment at any rate, this is headed off by what he feels to be the favorable turn which the affair is taking. He is anxious to avoid being placed in a position where he is continually being approached by the Chinese with protests and threats of action on their part. In his view, the Chinese now should undertake to do their share with as much independence as possible during the adjustment period lying immediately ahead. Drummond would like the United States if possible to make a suggestion to the Chinese in the foregoing sense.
In this regard it is obviously a delicate matter for you to make such a suggestion without possibly having the Chinese draw the implication that there is a lack of confidence in Drummond or that their case is being minimized. However, I am reporting Drummond’s thought to you to the effect that you may possibly find an occasion for cooperation in this matter with him.