Page:League of Nations-Appeal by the Chinese Government.pdf/3



On September 21st, 1931, the representatives of the Chinese government in Geneva wrote to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations asking him to bring to the attention of the Council the dispute between China and Japan which had arisen from the events which took place at Mudken on the night of September 18th–19th, and appealed to the council, under article 11 of the covenant, to "take immediate steps to prevent the further development of a situation endangering the peace of nations".

On September 30th, the Council passed the following resolution:

"The Council:

"(1) Notes the replies of the Chinese and Japanese governments to the urgent appeal addressed to them by its President and the steps that have already been taken in response to that appeal;

"(2) Recognizes the importance of the Japanese government's statement that it has no territorial designs in Manchuria;

"(3) Notes the Japanese representative's stat ement that his government will continue as rapidly as possible the withdrawal of its troops, which has already been begun, into the railway zone in proportion as the safety of the lives and property of Japanese nationals is effectively assured and that it hopes to carry out this intention in full as speedily as may be;

"(4) Notes the Chinese representative's statement that his government will assume responsibility for the safety of the lives and property of Japanese nationals outside that zone as the withdrawal of the Japanese troops continues and the Chinese local authorities and police forces are reestablished;

"(5) Being convinced that both governments are anxious to avoid taking any action which might disturb the peace and good understanding between the two nations, notes that the Chinese and Japanese representatives have given assurances that their respective governments will take all necessary steps to prevent any extension of the scope of the incident or any aggravation of the situation;

"(6) Requests both parties to do all in their power to hasten the restoration of normal relations between them and for that purpose to continue and speedily complete the execution of the above mentioned undertakings;

"(7) Requests both parties to furnish the Council at frequent intervals with full information as to the development of the situation;

"(8) Decides, in the absence of any unforeseen occurrence which might render an immediate meeting essential, to meet again at Geneva on Wednesday, 14 October 1931, to consider the situation as it then stands;

"(9) Authorizes its president to cancel the meeting of the Council fixed for 14 October should he decide after consulting his colleagues, and more particularly the representatives of the two parties, that in view of such information as he may have received from the parties or from other members of the Council as to the development of the situation, the meeting is no longer necessary."