THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS



a particular government is not disposed to accept the recommendations
of that Committee, but does call for a definite reply from the govern-
ments which are members of the League but are not represented on the
Committee and also from non-League governments such as the govern-
ments of the United States and the Soviet Union. As most of the
other major powers are represented on the Committee, the United
States and the Soviet Union are placed in the embarrassing position
of being the only two such powers likely to have published a
categorical approval or disapproval of the recommendations of the
Advisory Committee-thus giving their replies in the eyes of the
public an unwarranted degree of prominence. By way of suggestion,
you might mention that a more satisfactory procedure might be for
the League henceforth in such cases to circularize all interested powers,
members and non-members of the League alike, requesting replies
from all.
                                                        PHILLIPS

861.77 Chinese Eastern/1326: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bullitt) to the Secretary
                             of State

                               Moscow, September 2, 1934-6 p. m.
                               [Received September 2-5: 10 p. m.]
  282. The Japanese Embassy here insists that the Russians have
reopened negotiations for the sale of the Chinese Eastern Railroad
and that Soviet reports of Japanese threats to seize the railroad are
groundless and designed to arouse sympathy in the United States.
                                                         BULLITT

761.94/778: Telegram
     The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

                                PEIPING, September 4, 1934-noon.
                                [Received September 4-5: 12 a. m.]
  395. My telegram No. 390, August 29, noon.87 Gauss forwards
memorandum of a conversation with Soviet Ambassador at Nanking
in which latter indicated anxiety regarding reported renewal of
Anglo-Japanese alliance and expressed opinion that some important
development had occurred in Japan's international relations which
encouraged the Japanese Foreign Office abruptly to terminate Soviet-
Japanese negotiations for the sale of the Chinese Eastern Railway
when they had reached a point where an understanding might con-

87 Not printed.
    748408-50-voL. III-23



267