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

893.24/1465: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State

Chungking, December 3, 1942—2 p.m.
[Received December 4—11:10 p.m.]

1426. For Currie²⁸ and Stettinius from Ray.

1. Preliminary report on northwest trip sent from Tihua by Adler’s²⁹ safe hand. Have visited Lanchow and Tihua by air, made road inspection to Soviet border and visited Kuldja before return Tihua by air. Starting road inspection trip to Lanchow on November 29 and expect arrive Chungking by December 15 with full report condition northwest highway.

2. In Lanchow interviewed Governor Ku and staff, also Central Government Minister of Agriculture and chief of his Bureau of Animal Husbandry, and had preliminary talks with Dr. Frank Liu of Northwest Epizootic Prevention Bureau and General Ho Ching Wu of Northwest Transportation Administration. Main observations follow:

(a) Motor transport facilities in Kansu being centralized in hands of General Ho but handicapped by shortage of 34 × 7 tires for Soviet made Zes and Gaz trucks owned by Northwest Transportation Administration. Kansu petrol output from Yumen small and quality low due limited refinery and storage facilities. Part of output moved from Yumen in trucks of Ministry of Economic Affairs to Kwang-yuan in Szechuan for river transport to Chungking area.

(b) Animal cart and camel transport routes through Kansu being actively developed using private equipment under provincial registry and direction.

(c) Veterinary personnel, equipment and supplies badly needed for rinderpest infected areas mainly in Chinghai, Kansu and Ninghsia where animals important for transport food and clothing. Major Pyles mission, judging by reports from various sources, was valuable in revealing present deficiencies in staff and facilities, in clarifying [actual] needs and in developing practical program for use future technical advisers from abroad. Agriculture Ministry officials in charge are realistic and inspire confidence. Note again highly trained experts are less usable than healthy young adaptable improvisors mentally prepared for work and instruction under primitive [conditions?] aimed at gross results without laboratory refinements. Personnel useless without basic equipment and chemicals. In default of air deliveries veterinary supplies to Kunming, caravan route from India via Lhassa to Sining and Lanchow considered feasible and being developed.

3. Our party warmly welcomed in Sinkiang by Governor Shen and given facilities travel and inquiry on transport and economic matters. Main observations to date follow:

(a) Provincial transport agencies own total [apparent omission] 5 Soviet Zes 6-wheel 3-ton trucks of which only about 120 serviceable as rest lack tires and tubes. Also a few 1½-ton Gaz trucks in same condition. Usable trucks engaged almost entirely in intra-provincial civil and military government business including collection of provincial products for export to Soviet. Virtually no privately owned vehicles here. Eastbound deliveries Soviet petrol handled by Soviet-owned and operated truck fleet plus camel and cart transport.

(b) Major truck repair stations at Kuldja and Tihua only, and spare parts stocks low. Limited replacements available from Soviet, excepting tires and batteries. No tank trucks, tow cars, special service cars or filling stations on Sinkiang highway, but five long-established well-equipped and provincially-managed rest stations, each with first rate food and bedding for from 200 to 400 drivers, were observed from Tihua to Soviet border at Horgos, 440 kilometers from Alma Ata. Each has shelter for minor repairs and small store of petrol and lubricants.

(c) Route from border runs 72 kilometers to rest station at Hsin-erhtai, 158 to Chinghuo, 157 to Wusu, 131 to Sinlai, 137 to Tihua. Road is from 20 to 30 feet wide, packed dirt with gravel surfacing on most of route, and good drainage ditches on both sides. 25 wooden bridges from 10 to 100 yards in length and are called safe for minimum 7-ton loads. Maximum grade 14% for short stretch through mountain pass near Hsinerhtai. This mountain stretch has no hairpins but wide turns observed to be adequate for passage trailer trucks carrying 20 pipe sections. Route has two short detours around bridges under repair and some rough spots caused by minor flooding, also mud through villages due to thawing snow, but entire distance readily passable at 30 k. p. h. average pace. Main hazards are local flooding during April and May thaws from rivers now dry and desert winds in August and September. Condition and administration Sinkiang highway are in striking contrast to all reliable reports on Burma road, and give evidence of substantial past usage for imports from Soviet.

(d) Sixty Soviet operated 1½-ton eastbound trucks loaded with petrol in drums or cans observed daily on trip, also numerous east-bound camel and cart convoys similarly loaded. No westbound motor traffic seen but some animal convoys with hides.

(e) Soviet petrol also arriving Hi River port Huiyang just within Sinkiang border transshipment east to Hami or Hsinghsinghsia on Kansu border, by truck or animal transport. 3000 camels, 5000 donkeys and 1000 4-horse carts available for through traffic.

(f) Oil field at Tushan near Wusu or Shikho being developed as joint Soviet-Sinkiang venture, producing since first of year 150 tons crude daily with fair gasoline yield limited by equipment shortage.

4. Notable features of present provincial policy under Governor Shen are:

(a) Increasing liaison with Central Government on transport and resource development problems.

(b) Strongly centralized administration under capable directors.

(c) Evident inter-racial harmony achieved by nondiscrimination and encouragement of diverse cultural development by minorities.

(d) Effective use of Soviet technicians and advisers in industry, agriculture, animal husbandry and the professions.

(e) Positive easy money policy and promising initiation of banking and industrial enterprises using joint public and private capital, handicapped by stoppage of customary imports from Soviet of goods now needed in Soviet war effort.

5. My impression is Provincial Government will cooperate fully on transit Lend-Lease goods to Kansu and would use very effectively any supplies allocated to it by Central Government. Strongly advise some tire shipments for political reasons in view of recent British unfulfilled promises, from India via Kashgar. Will report further on Kansu transport situation after inspection trip. [Ray.]

Gauss

28. Lauchlin Currie, Administrative Assistant to President Roosevelt.
29. Solomon Adler, American representative on the Chinese Stabilization Board.