740.0011 Pacific War/3270a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in China (Atcheson)
633. British Embassy here has received information from British Embassy at Chungking to the effect that a force of 10,000 Chinese troops has been concentrated along the Tibetan borders. British Embassy stated this information is based on a report received from “an American officer”17 who recently returned to Chungking from Sining, Chinghai. It has also been learned from the British Embassy that this report has caused the British Government some concern and that in consequence the British Ambassador recently called on the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss this matter; that the Vice Minister indicated he had no information substantiating this report but took occasion to reiterate the position of the Chinese Government vis-à-vis Tibet.
The Department would appreciate receiving any information the Embassy may have in regard to the foregoing, but desires that you not make inquiries in this connection except very discreetly in official American circles.
- Lt. S. H. Hitch, Assistant Naval Attaché in China.↩