893.00/14970: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in China ( Vincent )
350. 1. Bern reports that the following information was contained in the February 5 issue of the Berliner Boersenzeitung:
According to reports from Nanking, Chungking has declared null and void all secret agreements concluded between former Governor of Sinkiang and Soviet Russia between 1931 and 1939 granting the Soviets economic concessions in return for Soviet military aid in suppressing Moslem revolts. The paper further states that a few days later President Roosevelt opened consulate at Sinkiang and that obviously [Page 214] Chiang Kai-shek would not have dared to affront Moscow without sufficient Anglo-American backing.
2. While the Department does not of course regard seriously propaganda emanating from Axis or Axis puppet sources, the foregoing report is communicated to the Embassy as of possible interest and for its comment in connection with the Embassy’s following of developments in and relating to Sinkiang.