893.00/13258
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 2.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy’s despatches Nos. 345098 and 3621 of March 22 and June 17, 1935, respectively, with [Page 362] regard to the political orientation of Sinkiang toward the Soviet Union, and to enclose a memorandum by Mr. Clubb99 under date October 1, 1935,1 comprising information furnished by a recent arrival from the province in question.
Certain supplementary factual material was obtained from that source clarifying and corroborating the several aspects of the immediate historical background of present conditions in Sinkiang. Of more interest, however, were the traveller’s statements with regard to the rapid extension of Soviet Russian influence in Sinkiang at the present time. Following upon the initial influx of Soviet Russians (in various guises) in December, 1933, for the rendering of assistance to General Sheng Shih-ts’ai in the latter’s drive to power, large numbers of highly trained military, political, and technical organizers evidently arrived from the Soviet Union and went to work at changing the structure of the province in accordance with a program which seems at the least to have been Soviet-inspired. Care has been taken to maintain an outward show of allegiance to the National Government at Nanking (the latest profession of fidelity from General Sheng Shih-ts’ai to that Government was printed in the press as late as October 2, 1935), but in fact the Communist Party in Sinkiang is apparently being developed along lines that will enable it to dominate the government of that border territory and—possibly with the help of the Soviet Union—to resist attacks on the province from the outside. These developments characterize most aspects of Sinkiang affairs at this time. The military, political, economic, and educational functions of the region are all being pushed forward along lines more like Soviet Russian than Chinese patterns, and it would appear from the evidence thus far obtained that a “People’s Republic” similar to that of Outer Mongolia is planned.
The present political circumstances of China’s Northwest are of striking interest, for Soviet Russia, Japan, and China seem to be converging upon a point in central Asia. The pressure of the Soviet Union eastward confronts what is apparently an attempt at a flanking movement by Japan against Siberian Russia through Inner Mongolia. From the south, nominally at least in pursuit of the Chinese Communist armies, over 200,000 National Government troops are being poured into Shensi and Kansu. It is obvious that the three forces may well, unless the present movement is reversed, come into open and direct conflict.
Respectfully yours,