761.93/1740: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
Chungking, November 18,
1943—2 p.m.
[Received 3:15 p.m.]
[Received 3:15 p.m.]
2189. Consul [at] Tihwa reported November 11 following information from Foreign Affairs delegate:
- 1.
- Embassy’s 1935, October 13, agreement for transfer to the Chinese of Soviet installation Hami signed and implemented. Last detachment of Soviet troops withdrawn October 29 and has entered U.S.S.R.
- 2.
- Soviet planes have been removed from Toutungho (Embassy’s 1989, October 20), but 100 odd Soviet troop[s] remain there and about same number [at] Tushan as property guard without Chinese objection.
- 3.
- Chinese are negotiating for purchase of Tushan installation on basis of Soviet’s leaving pipes in ground and structures intact (altho most pipe stocks, machinery and other equipment already taken away, [Page 380] removal of pipes from ground not yet begun). Immediate cause of Soviet withdrawal from Tushan (Embassy’s 1852, October 4,93 second paragraph) was disagreement over question whether control should be shared 50–50 (Soviet view) or 51 Chinese, 49 Soviet (Chinese view). By previous arrangement chief engineer was Soviet and director Chinese. Clubb states enterprise was evidently on 50 control and profit taking basis and that remaining joint Sino-Soviet enterprise in Sinkiang (Hami-[Alma?]Ata airline, believed operating on essentially the same basis as Tushan was) seems not yet to have been challenged.
- 4.
- In reply to foreign delegate’s démarche on November 10th looking toward restoration Sinkiang–Soviet trade relations, Soviet Consul General indicated no possibilities of such trade at present. Sinkiang obtaining 3,000 tires from Indian Government and proposes to supply India with some silk and 150 tons raisins, this constituting a renewal of trade relations broken off several years ago.
Gauss
- Not printed.↩