811.20 Defense (M)/10593: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 1—7:25 a.m.]
1406. Strategic materials. There would appear to be no practical manner in which Metals Reserve might assist, as suggested in your 1148, November 25, 10 p.m., in improving transportation of wolfram, although Embassy will mention suggestion to Metals Reserve Company in hope that it might bring forth greater endeavor to organize transport more effectively.
Regarding tin it is pertinent to note that even after delivery of 750 tons of tin for Russia (Embassy’s 1247, October 31, 1 p.m.) Chinese fall short of making full deliveries in accordance with 1942 agreement. Sino-Soviet 1943 agreement calls for delivery by China of 4000 tons of wolfram, 2000 tons tin and 200 tons mercury. Chinese will endeavor to deliver wolfram to Russians in Sinkiang but it is not [Page 672] expected that they will organize such overland transport for tin and the Russians desire air transport from Kunming for mercury. Therefore it would seem reasonable to move tin actually contracted by Russia prior to moving tin which we may take under contract for allocation to Russia. Russian tin would be given priority position ahead of our tin and only question arising would be priority position of 1100 tons of tin for India.