811.20 Defense (M)/271: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 27—5 a.m.]
427. Department’s 148, August 21, noon. The substance of the Department’s message was communicated by letter to Wong Wen-hao August 23 and he has replied under date of August 26 that the Chinese Government appreciates consent to modify purchase agreement to exclude Selenga cargo and will do its best to replace it. Title to this cargo has been transferred to the Soviet Government and the latter is now sending a chartered ship to Saigon to remove it.
French Embassy states the Soviet assistant commercial representative has been making earnest efforts for several days to obtain visa for journey to Indochina urging important business there. The visa has not yet been granted but the delay has been occasioned by unavoidable official procedure (see my despatch 497, April 239).
- Not printed.↩