893.00/6–1145
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Secretary of State
Dr. T. V. Soong, President of the Executive Yuan and Foreign Minister of China, called on me this morning and said that he wished to discuss certain points in the Yalta agreement concerning future developments in the Far East, which the President conveyed to him orally on June 9, and a copy of which I had personally placed in his hands at his residence that same afternoon. He said that, in accordance with his undertaking with the President, he had not telegraphed the text to Chungking and had merely informed the Generalissimo by wire that the document had been telegraphed to Ambassador Hurley, who would bring it to the Generalissimo’s attention. Dr. Soong said that he would like some clarification regarding various points in the agreement. These concerned:
- (1)
- The status quo in Outer Mongolia. Dr. Soong said that this term was open to various interpretations and he hoped that the question of the meaning of the term status quo would not be raised and that matters would simply be left as they are.
- (2)
- He was entirely in favor of the agreement concerning Sakhalin.
- (3)
- With regard to the establishment of a free port at Dairen, Dr. Soong assumed that Chinese sovereignty would be recognized and that the civil administration of the port would be Chinese.
- (4)
- With regard to the lease of Port Arthur, Dr. Soong pointed out that the former lease to the Japanese was only for twenty-five years, and that while the Japanese had pressed for an extension to ninety-nine years, this had never been done.
- (5)
- With regard to the South Manchurian Railway, the Japanese in controlling the railway had insisted on a zone on each [Page 899] side of the railway, which would also be under Japanese control. Dr. Soong expressed the hope that the Russians did not visualize controlling a similar zone along the railway and moving troops into that area. I said that the understanding was that there should be a combined Chinese and Russian control of the railway, and that, presumably, China would also be in a position to keep troops there if it wished. Dr. Soong replied that it would be objectionable to China to have any foreign troops in Manchuria.
- (6)
- Dr. Soong asked me what was to be understood by the provision in the Yalta agreement that consideration should be given to Russia’s predominant interest in Manchuria.
I said to Dr. Soong that not having been myself present at Yalta I was not in a position to interpret the various points in the agreement, and I assumed that these things would have to be ironed out at the next meeting of the Big Three. In any case, Dr. Soong would see Marshal Stalin prior to the meeting of the Big Three and would have an opportunity to discuss the agreement then. I said that our Government was committed by President Roosevelt to support the agreement as it stands, to which Dr. Soong replied, “The question arises as to just what you have agreed to support.”
Dr. Soong said that he was very anxious to get into touch with Harry Hopkins and wanted to know when and where he could see him. I said that Mr. Hopkins was arriving in Washington tomorrow afternoon, and I thought that Dr. Soong could readily make an appointment to see him on the following day. Mr. Soong said that he would telephone Mr. Hopkins direct in order to make an appointment.53
The Minister then asked me whether an agreement could be drawn up by which we would recognize Chinese civil government in any areas which we might occupy in China, presuming that we would effect landings there. He reminded me that he had taken this up with the President on Saturday. I said that this was essentially a military matter, which had been under consideration by our military authorities, and I thought it highly unlikely that they would be willing to enter into such agreement until their plans for possible landings in China had been perfected. Dr. Soong tried to press the matter but I gave him no encouragement.54
I then said to Dr. Soong that Dr. H. H. Kung had formally negotiated with Mr. Morgenthau55 concerning the payment to China of expenses in connection with the support of our troops in China, and that Mr. Morgenthau would be glad to know whether he should now continue these negotiations with Dr. Kung or whether he, Dr. Soong, as President of the Executive Yuan and Foreign Minister, [Page 900] would prefer to conduct the negotiations himself. Dr. Soong said that as he had so little time left in Washington he doubted if he could do it, but that he was to see Mr. Morgenthau shortly and would discuss the matter with him. In the meantime, he wished to reserve his opinion.56