Office of the Historian

893.00/8–3044: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State

Chungking, [undated.]
[Received August 30, 1944—10:17 a.m.]

1475. (1) National Government 29th announced appointment Wu Chung-hsin (Chairman, Mongolian Tibetan Affairs Commission) as Chairman, Sinkiang Provincial Government, vice Sheng Shih-tsai, [Page 811] who is stated to have resigned and who is appointed Minister [of] Agriculture and Forestry. Chu Shao-liang is designated to serve concurrently as Sinkiang Provincial Chairman pending Wu’s assumption of post.

(2) According to foreign correspondent, censor passed statement in outgoing despatch that change was made by Chinese Government to improve Sino-Soviet relations.

(3) Whether Sheng has actually resigned and is willing to leave Tihwa is unknown, nor is there information whether arrested Chungking officials have been released. Retel 1419, August 16, 2 p.m. In telegram of 26th, Consul at Tihwa reported Sheng had made further arrests, including his own third brother and uncle and another Kuomintang delegate from Chungking.

(4) Observers here inclined to feel that Sheng is unlikely openly to defy Central Government which reportedly has 3 divisions in Sinkiang compared with 20,000 troops under Sheng’s control, as latter would then be in untenable condition with Soviets opposing him on one hand and Chinese Government and its forces on other.74

Gauss

  1. In a memorandum dated September 5, 1944, the Chief of the Division of Chinese Affairs (Vincent) commented as follows:

    “The change in the Chairmanship of the Sinkiang Provincial Government as reported in Chungking’s 1475, is a step in the right direction. There would seem to be little reason to doubt that the change was made with a view to removing, or at least minimizing, one issue of conflict with the U. S. S. R. Sheng had followed a conscious policy of irritating the Russians since 1942 and it is understood that the Chinese Government had promised to accede to the Russians’ request that he be removed. Wu Chung Hsin is an ‘old line’ Chinese politician but he is ‘moderate’ and is intelligent.

    “We concur in the opinion that Sheng is unlikely openly to defy the Central Government.

    “Developments in Sinkiang will bear careful watching. The Russians do not believe the Chinese capable of establishing an enlightened administration for the non-Chinese population (over 90 percent of the total). It is up to the Chinese to prove the Russians wrong. The natives (Kazaks and others) know that across the border in Outer Mongolia and in Kazakistan there are administrations far more favorable to the interests of their kinsmen than the administration in Sinkiang.”

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