Geneva, Oct. 17.
From an authoritative source the United Presg learned that the programme for to-night's, gecret_ session of the Council, which began at ix o'clock, was the same as that Yollowed at' the morning—session. The delegates first considered and means of mobilising the pul opinion and moral force of the entire world as pressure on China and Japan. Secondly, the dele-Bates considered the possibility of additional action under the Kellogg Briand Pact, Mr, Gilbert sat as a member of the Council at all of its secret sea sions to-day, But Ox. Yoshizawa' and Dr. Alfred Ste were excluded from the secret session he At the conclusion of this mornin session Lord Cecil sai are going excellently. We absolutely must have agreement But a member, of the French de-Uegation said: "The situation, is exceedingly grave."
In the course of the day the Japanese Ambassador lodged with the Council a communication insisting that the Japanese aeroplane meconnaissances in Manchuria are not acts of war. He said they have Been necessitated by the activities of large bodies of mounted bandits long the South Manchuria Rail-seeking to. fie Japanese diplomat. fre dipped only'when' the Jap-nese aeroplanes are attacked."—United Press Mr. Gilbert's New Instructions i Washington, Oct. 17.
Because the Council: of the League of Nations remains dead-looked. in' its efforts to solve the
buna and because there are omin-Sino sy in Mane ous. reports that the. League "As-wombly. may be convoked to con-2 sider "the application of an. econo-mile boycott the Department State to-day instructed Mr. Prenties Gilbert, the American Consul General in' Geneva, to confine his Aiscussions at the Council table to applicability of the Kellogg 'Briand' Pact.
Tt was stated at the State Department " that, "the" instructions given to Mx. Gilbert would prevent! His committing the United States to ce-operation in any plan for an economic boycott "against either China or Japan. Mr, Gilbert, it announced, must. of" go beyond a iceussion of the" Kellogg-Briand Pace and especially Article IL as hho sits with the members of the Couneit in their deliberations on the Sine-Japanese controversy.
In hope that a solution of the: Manchurian crisis will appear offial Washington is also closely and anxiously watching Tokyo for signs of decreased tension. An offeial at the Department of State inform-othe "United Press that the American Government believes that the Tokyo Government will soon be
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.