893.24/1452: Telegram
The Ambassador in China ( Gauss ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 17—9:15 a.m.]
1184. Department’s 897, October 1, 10 a.m.[p.m.] Ray has not yet returned to Chungking. From Minister [of] Economics and Departmental Chief Ministry [of] Communications, both recently [Page 610] returned from visit to Sinkiang, Vincent has obtained following information in confidence, particularly with regard to source.
Replying to questions seriatim: 1. Condition of northwest highway is satisfactory. 2. There are only about 300 serviceable trucks in Sinkiang available to Chinese. Hope entertained that Russians might be persuaded to provide trucking facilities. 3. Chinese consider it impracticable to divert gas producers or other trucks from China proper to Sinkiang. 4. Very limited amount of Russian materials (gasoline) now being delivered to Kansu border by Russian trucks and amounts of Chinese cargo (strategic materials) moving toward Russia even more limited. 5. See Embassy’s despatches Nos. 443 and 467 of June 4 and 18.25 6. See Embassy’s telegram No. 1167 of October 12, noon.26 Chinese plan to use total Kansu production in transport in northwest exclusive of Sinkiang. Embassy’s despatch No. 668 of October 826 giving some details of Sinkiang oil output forwarded by pouch last week.
Responsible Chinese consider that maximum amount of materials that can be moved across Sinkiang to destinations in China is 2,000 tons monthly exclusive of gasoline for transport which they estimate at 1,000 tons monthly. Russians have agreed in principle to transit of materials over Turkish-Siberian railway and will undertake truck transportation across Sinkiang if Chinese will provide materials at Hsinghsinghsia on Sinkiang-Kansu border for return trip. Chinese will find it extremely difficult to provide 2,000 tons monthly having been unable so far to promise more than 500 tons.
Transportation across Sinkiang is the bottleneck. Movement of materials in excess of 2,000 tons monthly to Alma Ata in expectation that it would be moved into China would be impracticable and prove wasteful resulting simply in concentration at Alma Ata. With reference to mention of Sergiopol Chinese consider Alma Ata as logical Turkish-Siberian terminus for shipments to China.
Chinese express hope that Lend-Lease trucks in India on consignment to China be assembled and form first shipment via Iran and Turkish-Siberian to China loaded with materials if possible. They anticipate using these trucks in northwest China proper rather than in Sinkiang, however.
Until Chinese have solved problem of transport across Sinkiang it would be premature to commence movement of any volume of Lend-Lease materials to Alma Ata.