125.937D6/3–1945: Telegram
The Chargé in China ( Atcheson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 20—10:38 a.m.]
467. Both the British Ambassador51 and I have informally and casually approached the Foreign Office, from the point of view of the possibility that our Consuls and the American weather station at Tihwa might be cut off, in regard to the apparent lack of specific information on developments in Sinkiang. Neither Sir Horace, whose approach was made to the political Vice Foreign Minister, nor I received much satisfaction. I had the opportunity to make my approach during conversation with Soong on other matters on March 19 and in doing so I made an off-hand reference to the circumstance that we had established our Consulate at Tihwa at the suggestion of the Chinese Government. Soong said that he did not think there [Page 998] was any possibility of danger to Tihwa and that it was expected that when the weather improved the situation in Sinkiang would also improve as operations would be easier for the Chinese troops. I told him that our information, which was unconfirmed, was to the [effect that?] Chingho was under attack and that Wusu and Suilai, the latter only 130 miles from Tihwa, were surrounded by insurgents and I asked him if this information was correct. Consonant with what is an apparent rule for him and other Chinese officials in answering questions in regard to the situation in Sinkiang, he replied that he did not know the details. I requested him to let me know if the situation worsened, and he said he would do so.
- Sir Horace Seymour.↩