893.24/1507: Telegram
The Personal Representative of President Roosevelt in India (Phillips) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:27 p.m.]
75. Chinese Commissioner, just returned from consultation at Chungking, says no supplies have yet been shipped to China through Tibet. Practicability of this route is now being reconsidered in Chungking and from Commissioner’s remarks it is inferred decision of Chinese Government likely to be negative (reference Department’s 41, January 22, 11 p.m.).
Commissioner believes that after allowing for essential Tibetan traffic the actual annual capacity of this route, so far as through shipment [Page 621] to China is concerned, would be nearer 1,000 tons than the 3 to 4,000 originally estimated.
Political difficulties are also involved. Tibetans are uncooperative apparently distrusting intentions of both India and China and fearing undue expansion of their influence. India lays blame for this attitude on China, and vice versa. Tibetans apparently made difficulties over proposed stationing of British, Indian and Chinese officials along route to check shipments and for a time consideration was given to possibility of turning goods over to ordinary caravans for unsupervised transportation to Chinese border. A trial shipment of 50 tons was made ready in India but is being held up pending Chungking decision expected within a month.
Suggest if you have not already done so, you check with Victor4 for possible reports on this route from two representatives5 now at Lhasa.