893.00/15223
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 7, 1944.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy’s despatch No. 1580, September 16, 1943,6 in regard to Sino-Soviet relations in Sinkiang and to enclose copies of further despatches from the Consul at Tihwa on this subject as follows: Nos. 59, November 1, 1943; 73, December 9, 1943; and 74 and 75, December 10, 1943.7
Summary. The Special Delegate for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Chaucer H. Wu, informed Mr. Clubb in October that reported Kazak uprisings in the Altai region (Embassy’s telegram 1982, October 20, 9 a.m.) involved some 5,000 rebels, but on December 10 he stated that there were only some 400 originally involved of whom there then remained approximately 100 to be rounded up. On October 16 Mr. Wu stated that he had been having “much trouble” with incidents on the Soviet border involving Russian “ronin”. On December 10 Mr. Wu informed Mr. Clubb in confidence that the Soviets had concentrated an important military force on the border near the pass leading [Page 390] to Kashgar, but he admitted at the same time that the previously reported Kirghiz unrest in the Kashgar area had died down. Early in December relations between Mr. Wu’s office and the Soviet Consulate General were reported to be strained over negotiations in regard to the arrest by local authorities of certain persons which the Soviet authorities asserted to be Soviet citizens. On December 3 Provincial Chairman Sheng Shih-ts’ai informed Mr. Clubb that present plans do not call for establishment of heavy industry in Sinkiang because of the province’s proximity to the Soviet Union. Some Chinese in Sinkiang appear to believe that after the present war China will be forced to fight Soviet Russia in order to regain control of Outer Mongolia. End of Summary.
A reading of the enclosed despatches leaves the impression that there is rather widespread apprehension in Sinkiang over the future of Sino-Soviet relations, a feeling which has also been reported in the Lanchow area (Embassy’s despatch No. 1807, November 12, 1943)8 and which was recently expressed in rather vague terms by General Yang Chieh, former Chinese Ambassador to Russia, in conversation with an officer of the Embassy.
Special Delegate Wu, while avoiding direct accusations, appears to have done his best to suggest to Mr. Clubb that the Soviets are engaged in various activities designed to keep their relations with Sinkiang strained and to throw that province into a new political turmoil. Mr. Clubb states that he views Mr. Wu’s reports on this subject with extreme reserve.
Respectfully yours,