761.9.3/1759: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:55 p.m.]
603. In an informal conversation yesterday afternoon with the Foreign Minister,22 he confirmed developments in the Sinkiang incident along lines reported in our 593, April 4, saying “off the record” that he regarded the incident as more than a border clash and as indicative of Soviet attitude in the Far East. He emphasized that China avoided any protest, merely drawing attention of Soviet Ambassador to the reports from Sinkiang and requesting information, which after considerable delay was given as reported by Tass and [Page 770] which referred to the Soviet-Outer Mongolian mutual assistance pact. In reply China has directed attention to the Chinese-Soviet Russian agreement of 192423 under which Russia recognizes Chinese sovereignty over Mongolia. He asserted China has been restrained in dealing with the incident, desiring to avoid serving German and Japanese purposes by disclosure of any rift in the solid front of the United Nations.
- T. V. Soong.↩
- Signed at Peking, May 31, 1924, Foreign Relations, 1924, vol. i, p. 495.↩