861.77 Chinese Eastern/33: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
585. Local press publishes the following from Kuo Wen News Agency under date of July 16 from Nanking: [Page 209]
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wired the text of the Chinese reply to the Soviet ultimatum of July 14th [13th] to the Chinese Chargé in Moscow tonight. It is expected that the reply will be handed to the Moscow Government before the time limit of the Russian ultimatum expires tomorrow.
The note first says that since the conclusion of the Sino-Russian agreement of 1924 the Chinese Government and people have always been actuated by the desire to deal with the Soviet Government and people in a spirit of mutual sincerity. But during recent years many cases have come to light in Chinese territory where the Soviet Government was found behind organized movements to instigate the Chinese people against their Government or calculated to undermine the Chinese social order and the Government. For the purpose of maintaining social stability, the Government was obliged to take action in those cases.
Referring to the raid on the Soviet Consulate in Harbin about six weeks ago, the note says that it was carried out for the purpose of forestalling serious consequences to the peace and order of Harbin and that when the Chinese authorities had decided on the raid it took every precaution to limit its scope.
Coming down to more recent events in Harbin the communication says that, according to recent reports received by the Chinese Government, the Soviet manager of the Chinese Eastern Railway and important Russian officials of the Chinese Eastern Railway have never fulfilled the terms of the Sino-Russian agreement of 1924 and the provisions regulating government operation of the line and that during recent years the Russian officials have committed so many violations of the agreement that the Chinese officials were unable to carry out their duty under the pact. What is worse, the Russians have time after time used the organs of the railway to carry out propaganda forbidden by the agreement of 1924. For these reasons the authorities of that Province were obliged to act. This shows that the responsibility for the violations [of] the agreement and the provisional regulations rests on the shoulders of Moscow.
After declaring that according to the reports of Chinese Consulate in Russia more than one thousand Chinese have been arrested and imprisoned by the Soviet authorities, while many are subject to all sorts of restrictions, the note goes on to say that the Chinese Government has always been generous in its treatment of Russians and Russian commercial organizations in China and that the recent action of the Manchurian authorities was done purely for the purpose of putting a stop to reactionary propaganda and maintaining the peace and order of the Three Eastern Provinces.
Demands: (1) That all the Chinese arrived in Russia should be returned with the exception of those whom the Chinese Legation [Embassy?] or Chinese Consulates want to remain on account of pending case against them; (2) that the Soviet Government should accord all the necessary guarantees and facilities to Chinese merchants and merchandise originating in Russia and should not prosecute them. If the Soviet Government can do these things, the Chinese Government will set free all the Russians recently arrested in Harbin.
[Page 210]In short, it has always been the hope of the Chinese Government and people that the Soviet Government will awaken to its mistake and rectify its previous improper actions. They particularly hope in the present instance that the Soviet Government will respect the law and sovereignty of China and refrain from making any proposals contrary to the facts of the case. The Government has ordered Mr. Chu Shao-yang, Chinese [Minister to Finland], who is now in Shanghai, to stop over in Moscow on his way to his post and talk over all the outstanding Sino-Russian questions, particularly the Chinese Eastern Railway, with the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the purpose of reaching an amicable settlement. It is hoped that you [he?] will embody the contents of this in a note to the Soviet Foreign Ministry and also ascertain the views of the Russian side.”
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