861.77 Chinese Eastern/571
The Chinese Minister (C. C. Wu) to the Secretary of State58
Sir: I have the honor to transmit the following communication from my Government relating to the controversy between the Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics:
On August 19, 1929, the Chinese Government had the honor to address a communication to the Signatories of the Treaty for the Renunciation of War giving an account of the origin of the controversy concerning the Chinese Eastern Railway between the Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and announcing its readiness at any time to seek by discussion with the Soviet Government a settlement of the controversy.
From the beginning it has been apparently the policy of the Soviet Government to use force as a solution of the dispute. On various occasions there have been attacks by Soviet forces on Chinese garrisons and invasions of Chinese territory by land, by water, and by air, for instance at Tungning on August 14, 16, and 17, at Chalainor on August 18, September 4, and 8, at Suiyuan on September 29, at Manchuli on October 1 and 2, and at Tungkiang on October 12. Not only have casualties been sustained by Chinese troops, but there has been heavy loss of life and property among the civilian population in the invaded territory.
The Chinese Government, on the other hand, mindful of its obligations as a Signatory of the Treaty for the Renunciation of War, has in spite of extreme provocation confined itself strictly to measures of self-defence. Chinese troops even after repulsing the invaders have in no instance set foot across the border. And repeated but unfortunately unsuccessful attempts have been made to reach with the Soviet Government a settlement by pacific means.
Recently in view of Soviet allegations of Chinese responsibility for the warlike conditions along the border, the Chinese Government, aware of the falsity of these allegations, proposed to the Soviet Government the appointment of a mixed commission of inquiry, presided [Page 384] over by a national of a third country, to investigate and report on the responsibility for the frontier situation.59 Pending the investigation, both sides were to withdraw their forces from the frontier to a distance of thirty miles. In case of acceptance by the Soviet Government of these conciliatory suggestions, the Chinese Government stated that it was further prepared to submit the whole case for adjustment to a neutral agency according to the established usage for the peaceful settlement of international disputes.60
The Chinese Government has thus continually and consistently demonstrated its faithful and scrupulous adherence to the Treaty for the Renunciation of War. Nevertheless the Soviet Government seems to persist in its policy of waging undeclared but actual war on China. On November 17 an armed invasion in greater force than hitherto took place resulting in the Soviet occupation of Manchuli and Chalainor.
Under these circumstances, the Chinese Government considers it its duty to communicate with the Governments of the Co-Signatories of the Treaty for the Renunciation of War, for the purpose of drawing their attention to the acts and attitude of the Soviet Government which are contrary to the provisions of the Treaty and requesting that such measures be adopted as may be necessary and appropriate in view of Article II of the Treaty.
Accept [etc.]
- A similar communication, dated Nanking, December 3, 1929, was addressed by the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs to the American Chargé in China (861.77 Chinese Eastern/878).↩
- In the note as received by the Chargé in China, this sentence does not end here; the next sentence is added to it as a closing phrase shortened and modified as follows: “or the withdrawal by both sides of their forces from the frontier to a distance of 30 miles.”↩
- The note as received by the Chargé in China contains an additional sentence at this point as follows: “These suggestions were rejected in their entirety by the Soviet Government.”↩