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 In the course of its work, the Commission was assisted by the technical advice of Professor, Professor at the Clark University, U.S.A., Ph.D., L.L.D.; M. , Agrégé de l'Université de France; Mr. Ben , B.A., M.A., William Harrison Mills Fellow, University of California, U.S.A.; Dr. A. D. A. de , Colonel T. A. , assistant to the Chairman of the Canadian National Railways; G. S. Moss, Esq., C.B.E., H.B.M. Consul in Weihaiwei; Dr. C. Walter , M.A., Ph.D., Far Eastern Representative of the Institute of Current World Affairs, New York City.

The European members of the Commission sailed from Le Havre and Plymouth on February 3rd, and were joined by the American member at New York on February 9th.

Meanwhile, the development of the situation in the Far East caused the Chinese Government, on January 29th, to submit a further appeal to the League of Nations under Articles 10, 11 and 15 of the Covenant. On February 12th, 1932, the Chinese representative requested the Council to submit the dispute to the Assembly in accordance with paragraph 9 of Article 15 of the Covenant. Since no further instructions were received from the Council, the Commission continued to interpret its mandate according to the resolution of the Council of December 10th. This included:


 * (1) An examination of the issues between China and Japan, which were referred to the Council, including their causes, development and status at the time of the enquiry;


 * (2) A consideration of a possible solution of the Sino-Japanese dispute which would reconcile the fundamental interests of the two countries.

This conception of its mission determined the programme of its work.

Before reaching Manchuria, the main theatre of the conflict, contact was established with the Governments of Japan and China and with representatives of various shades of opinion, in order to ascertain the nature of the interests of the two countries. The Commission arrived in Tokyo on February 29th, where it was joined by the Japanese Assessor. It had the honour of being received by His Majesty the Emperor. Eight days were spent in Tokyo, and daily conferences were held with members of the Government and others, including the Prime Minister, Mr., the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. , the Minister of War, Lieutenant-General , the Minister of Navy, Admiral. Interviews were also held with leading bankers, business-men, representatives of various organisations and others. From all of these we received information regarding the rights and interests of Japan in Manchuria and her historical associations with that country. The Shanghai situation was also discussed. After leaving Tokyo, We learned while in Kyoto of the establishment of a new "State" in Manchuria, under the name of "Manchukuo" (the Manchu State). In Osaka, conferences were arranged with representatives of the business community.

The Commission reached Shanghai on March 14th and was joined there by the Chinese Assessor. Here a fortnight was occupied, in addition to our general enquiry, in learning as much as possible about the facts of the recent fighting and the possibility of an armistice, Which we had