Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, China

893.24/1459: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Henderson) to the Secretary of State ²⁷

Kuibyshev, October 31, 1942—2 p.m.
[Received November 2—7:18 a.m.]

954. Embassy’s 928, October 24, noon. The Chinese Chargé d’Affaires tells me that:

1. When his Ambassador and he were in Moscow last week they presented to Molotov and Mikoyan a revised draft of the proposed traffic agreement, the most important points of which are:

(a) the Soviet Government is to transport monthly 2,000 tons of transit merchandise, including war material and industrial equipment from Ashkhabad to Alma Ata by rail and from Alma Ata to Hami by truck. The Chinese Government is to deliver monthly 2,000 tons of raw materials to the Soviet Government at Hami, the exchange point. The Soviet Government is also to turn over monthly to the Chinese Government at Hami 1,200 tons of oil for use in automobile transport between Hami and points further in the interior of China.

(b) In case the Chinese Government is able to improve transport facilities in the interior of China it might later raise the questions of an increase in the volume of transit goods and of undertaking singly or jointly with the Soviet Government the transport of merchandise between Hami and Alma Ata.

(c) The Chinese Government is to maintain technical inspectors and transport experts at all important transshipment points between Karachi and Hami.

2. The categories of goods to be delivered by China to the Soviet Union are being determined in Chungking. They will include wool, tin, wolfram, raw silk, hides, and tung oil.

3. Molotov stated that the Soviet Government in principle desired to assist China in the matter of transit trade and left to Mikoyan the discussion of details. Mikoyan promised to refer the draft to his government and said that his representative in Kuibyshev would give the Soviet answer to the Chinese Chargé d’Affaires. Mikoyan expressed the opinion that the success of the transit scheme depends upon the willingness and ability of the British to repair and improve the railway between Quetta and Zahidan and to provide trucks for the highways between Quetta and Ashkhabad and between Alma Ata and Hami. He added that the Soviet Union would not agree to the shipment of transit goods for China through Iranian ports [since route through?] Iran was already congested with Soviet war materials. The British had promised to deliver to the Soviet Union 80,000 tons monthly through this route but were bringing only 35,000 tons monthly.

4. The British Ambassador in Moscow told the Chinese Ambassador and Chargé d’Affaires that in his opinion the success of the scheme depended to a large extent on the ability of the Americans to deliver the required amount of trucks in the near future at Karachi. He understood that the matter had already been taken up in Washington; that trucks were available; but that there might be some difficulties with regard to vessels for transport. He also suggested that the Chinese make it clear to the Soviet Government that the latter was to furnish gasoline and oil between Alma Ata and Hami.

5. Before his departure the Chinese Ambassador had asked the Chargé d’Affaires to request me to bring to the attention of the American Government the urgent need for the delivery of American trucks at Karachi.

Henderson

27. Substance repeated by the Department to the Embassy in China in telegram No. 1033, November 5, midnight.