893.00/14896
Memorandum by the Ambassador in China (Gauss) of a Conversation With the Chinese Political Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs (Fu)39
During a visit to the Foreign Office this afternoon, after disposing of the matters which were the occasion of my visit, I turned the conversation into general channels and found opportunity to ask whether progress is being made in the adjustment of the situation in Sinkiang.
Mr. Fu replied that matters are proceeding satisfactorily and the Soviet attitude has been reasonable. The Chairman of the Sinkiang Provincial Government, General Sheng Shih-tsai, also is cooperating satisfactorily. Mr. Chaucer Wu, he said, had arrived in Sinkiang as Commissioner of Foreign Affairs and all foreign affairs in the Province are now in his hands under control and direction of the central government. It is proposed to effect a reorganization of the province and to bring internal matters and also Party matters more firmly under national government supervision.
I asked whether the so-called “Russian brigade” is still at Hami, whether any difficulty is being experienced in this matter of troops; are the Russians of this brigade “white” or “red” and are they provincial troops. Mr. Fu said that the Russians are provincial troops, “whites” turned “red”; and then he went on to say that of course the whole matter of the discussions with the Soviet Government is one of extreme delicacy and that it must be handled with the greatest care. [Page 243] However, so far, the Soviet Government attitude has been reasonable.
I referred to the fact that Sinkiang adjoins Soviet territory and being distant from Chinese commercial centers in China proper, it is but natural that there is considerable border trade between the U. S. S. R. and Sinkiang, and presumably the Russians are particularly interested in the development of Sinkiang as an immediately adjoining territory. Mr. Fu replied that he thought perhaps there is too much Russian interest in the development of Sinkiang; and he added with a smile that there is even talk of inviting Americans and the British to come into the Province (presumably, to offset Soviet influence). I took occasion to mention the oil development in Sinkiang, inquiring whether this was not principally a Soviet development. Mr. Fu hesitated and then replied that he thought it would become necessary to have some discussions with the Soviet Government on this development; that he expected that such discussions would be opened. After making this statement he apparently thought better as to this disclosure and asked me to regard it as strictly confidential between us and not to be passed on. As I felt that I had developed this general subject as far as I could at this conversation, I passed on to other topics.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in China in his covering despatch No. 650, September 29; received October 30.↩