740.0011 Pacific War/3272: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Gauss)
1398. Reference Department’s 1374 of September 27, 1943, 4 p.m. and prior communications.
In a conversation with an officer of the Department on September 28 Dr. T. V. Soong introduced the subject of Tibet. He said that while [Page 642] in London he had talked with the BFO32 on that subject and that a few days ago Sir George Sansom of the British Embassy here had come to him under instructions and had spoken of the BFO’s uneasiness in the presence of rumors that the Chinese were assembling troops on the Tibetan border. Dr. Soong said that he had stated to Sir George that the Chinese regard Tibet as an integral part of China; regard relations with the Tibetans as an internal problem; and that, although he, Soong, is not fully informed regarding troop movements, he doubts the rumors regarding massing of troops, he is not aware of any reason why there should be trouble with the Tibetans, etc., he would suggest that the British not make representations at Chungking implying a special British interest in Tibetan problems as problems involving an area or a people independent of China. Dr. Soong went on to say that in their study of geography the Chinese have long been taught that Tibet is a part of China and they have no thought whatever that this is open to question; and he further said that the question of Tibet is obviously of greater practical importance to the Chinese and the Tibetans than to the people of any other country.
It was pointed out to Dr. Soong, without argumentation, that by virtue of its geographical position, Tibet naturally is a subject of particular interest not only to China but also to India. Dr. Soong readily admitted this but affirmed that politically and in law Chinese claims regarding Tibet stand on far firmer ground than do British claims.
If you have not already made an approach along the lines suggested in the final paragraph of the Department’s 1340, September 21, 10 p.m. you are authorized to leave in abeyance for the present any action on that suggestion.
- British Foreign Office.↩