740.0011 PW/1–1945: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Hurley) to the Secretary of State

90. 1. Following from Consul [at] Tihwa: In continuation of interview of January 12 (ReEmbs 80, January 17), General Chu expressed belief that insurgency was Soviet inspired and directed, that the problem would shortly become as critical as that between Poland and Russia, and that USSR had determined that a government under its control must be established in Sinkiang; Chu said, however, that insurgent propaganda which continued to favor return of Turkestan to Moslem races was not communistic in character. (Chu’s pessimistic views on military situation professedly shared by provincial chairman.

2. Consul states he believes Chu to be sincere in his opinions as above, i. e., that Chu’s remarks to him were not made merely for [Page 993] propaganda. Our usual informants among Chinese officials here seem in general either ignorant of developments in Sinkiang or have adopted an attitude of caution in discussing it and there has not been any accompanying wave of anti-Soviet propaganda such as accompanied the April 1944 situation.

Hurley