811.20 Defense (M)/6544: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Gauss)
402. Your No. 523, May 7, 1 p.m. and No. 534, May 9, noon. Do you consider that there is a danger either that stocks of tin within China may fall into enemy hands or that the tin mines themselves are threatened? If so, the Department would be glad to receive any suggestion as to the better safeguarding of the stocks and mines and in particular your opinion on the desirability of amending existing tin contracts with China so as to provide for full payment by the United States upon the delivery of tin to points within China to be specified by the Embassy from time to time as either safe or preferably as safe and suitable for subsequent shipment to Russia.
Foregoing should be considered in the light of the possible earmarking of total Chinese tin production to Russia.