861.77 Chinese Eastern/165: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 1—1:33 p.m.]
663. Legation’s 660, August 1, 7 p.m. Following from American Consul at Harbin:
“August 1, 8 p.m. American press correspondents now at Manchuria Station report that Messrs. Li and Tsai met Soviet representatives at frontier, July 31st. It was agreed to appoint delegates negotiate Chinese Eastern Railway question. Tsai quoted as stating that Soviet ultimatum would be automatically withdrawn, that delegates probably would be named within week and probably would meet at Harbin, and that Moscow had ordered Soviet demonstrations along the border cease. In my opinion there will be no Communist agitation here or along the railway today.”