Office of the Historian

861.77 Chinese Eastern/496: Telegram

The Ambassador in Germany (Schurman) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]
Berlin, November 29, 1929—noon.
[Received November 29—11:50 a.m.]

237. My 234, November 28, 4 p.m. I have been given by the German Foreign Office a copy of the Chinese Government’s note of November 14, which was transmitted November 26 to the German Embassy in Moscow for the Russian Government:

(1)
The National Government of China, being a signatory of the Pact of Paris, refrained, even after the break with the Russian Government, from engaging in provocative or aggressive actions against Russia, though Chinese citizens were being treated badly in Russia.
(2)
The Russian Government at the same time sent armed forces to the Sino-Russian frontier, and they attacked Chinese garrisons and entered Chinese territory, which resulted in loss to life and property. Chinese forces neither returned the attacks nor entered Russian territory.
(3)
The National Government of China is surprised by the Russian declaration, contained in the Russian notes of September 25 and October 12,29 that either Chinese troops alone or together with Russian White Guard had attacked Russian troops and had raided the Russian frontier.
(4)
Taking into account the Russian Government’s stubborn insistence that the Chinese began hostilities on the frontier, the National Government of China, while solemnly denying the accusation, proposes the formation of a mixed commission in order to investigate and to establish the responsibility for the serious situation. The [Page 361] mixed commission would consist of both Chinese and Russian representatives, with a citizen of a neutral country as its chairman.
(5)
For the purpose of meeting the anxious wishes expressed by the Russian Government in its note dated September 25 to establish peace on the frontier, the National Government of China proposes the withdrawal of armed forces of both countries from the frontier to a depth of 30 miles.
(6)
Should the foregoing proposal be accepted by Russia, the National Government of China, as a signatory of the Fact of Paris, is prepared to submit the entire dispute to a neutral, impartial resort for adjustment.

Schurman
  1. Neither printed.↩