893.6359 Wolfram Ore/39
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 13.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Legation’s despatch No. 3626 of June 15, 1935, reporting a proposal for the establishment of a tungsten monopoly in Kiangsi, and to enclose copies of despatches No. 119 and No. 125 of June 7 and June 14, 1935, respectively, from the Hankow Consulate General to the Legation,82 regarding the matter.
It will be noted that the Kiangsi Provincial Government stated, in reply to the Consulate General’s inquiry, that tungsten produced in Kiangsi is now exported from the province under the control of the Tungsten Mining Bureau. The Consulate General, however, reports that the amount of Kiangsi-mined tungsten exported through Changsha, Hunan, has increased considerably since January 1 of this year, and that there exists a competitive market for tungsten ore in that city.
[Page 786]No reply has yet been received from the Central Government in response to inquiries made by the Legation at Nanking, as reported in the Nanking Office’s despatch No. L–712 Diplomatic of June 7, 1935, a copy of which is enclosed.83 In these circumstances, the Legation proposes to await a more definite expression of policy regarding the tungsten monopoly by the Central Government, and for a possible crystallization of the situation, before making any official representations in the matter.
Respectfully yours,