703.003/9–145: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 1—7:20 a.m.]
3130. Late yesterday evening Kennan was called to Foreign Office by Chief of American Section who referred to my recent conversation with Stalin concerning statement about Open Door Policy (sent Dept as 3130, repeated Chungking for Ambassador as 133; reference Embassy’s 3077, August 27, 11 p.m.) and inquired when the Chinese Govt would issue its statement and what would be the text. He asked whether, if we could not supply this information, Soviet Govt might approach Chinese Govt directly in the matter.
On my authority Kennan replied as follows: (a) that it had been suggested to Soong as it had to Stalin that statement be issued by both Russian and Chinese Govts and that Soong had indicated assent to this proposal, (b) that no definite text had been discussed with Chinese (Kennan explained that only text we had presented to Chinese was that which I had presented to Stalin on August 8 and which was predicated on assumption that expression of adherence to Open Door Policy would take form of joint communication to our Govt but that since then we had proposed a simple statement to be issued by both Govts so that original text was no longer matter of discussion) and (c) that it would seem entirely appropriate for them to discuss this matter with Chinese Govt if they so wished.
Since Foreign Office official seemed to have impression proposed statement would relate to China in general, Kennan emphasized that it was Manchuria we had particularly in mind since the statement was meant to be in connection with recent Russo-Chinese agreement dealing with Manchuria.