761.93/1735
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
No. 1610
Chungking, September 23,
1943.
[Received October 14.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of
despatch No. 53, August 28, 1943 from the Embassy officer at Sian in regard
to Russian military advisers in Sian.
There have been numerous rumors current in recent weeks in regard to the
status of the various Russian military advisers in free China (not including
Sinkiang—Embassy’s despatch No. 1272, June 19, 194349). The consensus of reliable
opinion, which is confirmed in part by the Soviet Embassy here, is to the
effect that although some of the advisers have recently returned to Russia
they have been replaced by new arrivals, but that within the past two or
three months all advisers assigned to troops in the field have been
transferred to military schools or other institutions where their functions
and activities are relatively restricted and unimportant.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure]
The Second Secretary of Embassy in China
(Drumright)
to the Chargé in China (Atcheson)
No. 53
Sian, August 28,
1943.
Sir: As of possible interest to the Embassy, I
have the honor to report the presence in Sian of eight Soviet Union
military advisors. According to an official of the “Foreign Affairs
Section” of the Bureau of Police, whose function it is to keep a
constant check on the movements of foreigners residing in or passing
through Sian, these gentlemen are attached to General Hu Tsung-nan’s
34th Group Army in Sian. They reside in a hostel maintained by the
Chinese authorities.
According to foreign missionaries with whom the subject has been
discussed, there have been Russian military advisors at Sian for the
past four or more years. These informants have the impression that the
personnel is changed about once in a year, the advisors in residence
returning to the Soviet Union to be replaced by new arrivals. A
missionary informant who resided adjacent to the hostel where these
advisors were housed for more than two years asserts that they gave the
impression of being idle most of the time, seldom leaving their
habitation other than to obtain exercise. He states that although he
made numerous advances he was unable to strike up an acquaintanceship
[Page 343]
with any of them; on one
occasion his tender of Bible literature in the Russian language was
summarily rejected. Following this incident, according to my informant,
the Chinese manager of the hostel made inquiry as to what he was trying
to present to the Russians and the motive therefor.
It is the consensus of local foreign missionaries that the Russian
advisors are very closely watched by the Chinese authorities, that their
presence in Sian is viewed with suspicion, and that their functions are
nominal only.
Respectfully yours,
