100
793.94 Conference/301
Report of the
United States Delegate to the Conference at Brussels (Davis)
[Extracts]
DECEMBER 16, 1937.
The Belgian Government "in response to
the request of the British Government and with the approval of the American Government"
issued to the parties to the Nine Power Treaty an invitation to attend a
conference at Brussels for the purpose "of examining in accordance with
Article VII of the Nine Power Treaty, the situation in the Far East and to
study peaceable methods-for hastening the end of the regrettable conflict now
taking place there." Also, after consulting other powers to the Treaty, it
issued similar invitations to the Soviet Union and Germany.
All parties to the Nine Power Treaty, except
Japan, accepted the invitation. Also, the Soviet Union accepted. Japan declined
and Germany declined.
By this time it was realized that the task
given to the Brussels Conference had been made additionally difficult by the
fact that the League and the American Government had already delivered judgment
upon Japan's course.
The American Delegate to the Conference
received instructions in the form of a written instruction from the Secretary
of State; an informal memorandum; oral instructions given by the President and
the Secretary of State at the White House; and oral instructions given by the
President at Hyde Park. The general purport of all of these instructions was to
the effect that the policy to be followed must be consistent with the
principles and provisions of the Nine Power Treaty and the general principles
of American foreign policy as laid down especially in public statements of the
Secretary of State and the President. There was no provision that any positive
methods of pressure should or might be discussed at the Conference; but there
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was also no express provision that such method should not be
discussed, provided, however, that previously every effort to bring about
mediation had been exhausted. In the written instruction, attention as called
not only to the terms of the Belgian Government's invitation but also to
statements of the Secretary of State and to the President's address at Chicago
of October 5. In the conversations at the White House and at Hyde Park,
especially the latter, the President emphasized to the American Delegate the
view that if we are to avoid an ultimate serious clash with Japan some
practical means must be found to check Japan's career of conquest and to make
effective the collective will of those powers which desire that principles of
law and order shall prevail and controversies between nations be regulated and
settled by peaceful means rather than by use of armed force. The resident
emphasized the importance of mobilising moral force in all peace-loving nations
and suggested a strategy of calling upon Japan repeatedly to come into
conference and seek means for desisting from hostilities and submitting the
issues between herself and China to peaceful processes of settlement. He
suggested that the Conference might be given a prolonged life and that it might
be made an agency or informing and educating public opinion by way of bringing
to bear upon Japan every moral pressure directed toward bringing bout a change
in Japan's attitude and policy. Also, he suggested at the Delegation observe
closely the trend of public opinion in the United States and take full account
thereof. He realized the difficulties before us but hoped that the Conference
might nonetheless produce constructive results either in its influence on Japan
or in mobilising public opinion.
The outstanding achievements of the
Conference were as follows: 1. Exchanging of views, among nineteen governments,
enabling the delegates of each—and through them their governments—to obtain
knowledge of the attitude and position of the others;
2. Demonstration of the unwillingness of
Japan to resort to methods of conciliation;
3. Clarification of the fact that the
Japanese continue to insist that the issues between Japan and China are
exclusive to those two countries whereas the Conference Powers with the
exception of Italy deny this and affirm that the situation is of concern to all
of them and in fact to all members of the Family of Nations;
4. Express reaffirmation by the Conference
Powers with the exception of Italy of the principles of the Nine Power Treaty.
5. Express serving of notice that the
settlement ultimately arrived
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at must be consistent with the principles of the Nine Power Treaty and
satisfactory to the Conference Powers;
6. Express serving of notice that the
Conference Powers will continue to concern themselves with the situation and
that the Conference is not ended but is in recess and is subject to
re-convocation.