893.24/1677: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State

2194. I have been keeping in touch with Soviet Commissar for Foreign Trade and with Chinese Ambassador here on shipment of Lend-Lease supplies for China by the Turk-Sib Railroad and overland route. Reference Department’s 938, October 1, 10 p.m.,36 had thought matter was progressing favorably. On December 10 Counselor of Chinese Embassy told Hamilton37 in response to inquiry that about 2 weeks ago the Chinese Ambassador had communicated to Chinese Foreign Office Soviet stipulation that Chinese Government supply to Soviet Union 1300 tons of commodities per month independent of supplies China had agreed to supply under other arrangements; also Soviet request for list commodities to be conveyed into China in order that computation of charges might be made. Counselor said that Chinese Ambassador had as yet received no reply from Foreign Office. He expressed opinion Chinese Government would find difficulty meeting stipulation regarding supplying of 1300 tons of new supplies.

Repeated to Chungking.

Harriman
  1. See footnote 35, p. 612.
  2. Maxwell M. Hamilton, Counselor of Embassy in the Soviet Union.