893.00/12800

The Consul at Hankow (Stanton) to the Minister in China (Johnson)57

L. No. 554

Sir: I have the honor to refer to a Reuter’s despatch from Simla, dated July 18th, confirming the defeat of General Ma Chung-ying by forces under the command of General Sheng Shih-ts’ai, Garrison Commander of Sinkiang, and reporting that the Tungan forces were preparing to retire to Khotan from Yarkand and Kashgar, leaving [Page 229] the former Chinese governor in chargé of Kashgar where all was reported quiet. This report followed one from Moscow, dated July 16th, to the effect that General Ma had been badly defeated by the provincial forces and had been disarmed by the Soviet authorities when he together with three officers and seventy cavalrymen fled across the border, near Irkenshtam, into Soviet territory about July 10th.

The defeat of Ma Chung-ying and the collapse of the independent regime established at Kashgar, gives General Sheng Shih-ts’ai a larger measure of control over that remote Province than the Chinese have exercised for many years. The credit for the defeat of Ma must be given entirely to General Sheng who appears to be a man of energy and some military ability, his Japanese military training undoubtedly having proved of value to him. The Chinese Government, while seemingly alive to the potentialities of the situation in Sinkiang, can be given little credit. It has actually done nothing beyond despatching emissaries to Sinkiang some of whom were appalled and intimidated by the chaotic situation, while others fished in the troubled waters and thereby added to the confusion.

Certain it is that General Sheng has received little if any material assistance from Nanking which appears to have supplied him with neither military supplies nor funds. It is equally certain that without arms and ammunition from an outside source, General Sheng would not have been able to defeat Ma Chung-ying. His principal source of supplies has undoubtedly been Soviet Russia, which in view of its large and growing commercial and economic interests in Sinkiang, presumably desires to see the situation stabilized in that Province and in all probability, would much prefer to have it under nominal Chinese control than to see it disintegrate into several semi-independent principalities subject to the machinations of the other interested Powers.

With General Sheng Shih-ts’ai exercising some real measure of military control over the major portion of Sinkiang, an unique opportunity exists for Nanking to take immediate and effective steps to consolidate its position in that Province and to institute an efficient administrative system composed of men who understand the racial, economic and political conditions obtaining in that region. The rehabilitation of the Province and the development and improvement of its commerce and communications are other matters calling for prompt and careful attention. It remains to be seen whether the Chinese Government will make the most of this unique opportunity or, as is more likely, merely breathe a sigh of relief and turn to the more personally interesting and profitable field of domestic politics.

As of interest in connection with events of the past few years in Sinkiang, there is enclosed a copy of an article58 giving much useful [Page 230] information concerning politics and personalities in that Province. The article was received from Mr. Tamberg, the leader of the Oppenheimer Casing Company’s motor expedition into Kansu and Sinkiang and is said by him to have been written by an Englishman who has followed events in Sinkiang very closely for many years.

Respectfully yours,

E. F. Stanton
  1. Copy transmitted to the Department by the Consul at Hankow in his despatch No. 483, July 28; received August 25.
  2. Not printed.