893.00/5–545: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Hurley) to the Secretary of State
Chungking, May 5,
1945—8 a.m.
[Received 11:30 a.m.]
[Received 11:30 a.m.]
725. Following is summary of recent telegrams from Consul Ward in Tihwa.
- 1.
- Arrival in Sinkiang of substantial reinforcements (Embassy’s 643, April 18, 3 p.m.) makes unlikely severance of communications with Lanchow or a successful attack on Tihwa, but the cost of maintenance of such a large military establishment has tended to aggravate inflation and other sources of discontent. Tension continues, however, and the authorities have ordered a new series of arrests allegedly in an effort to forestall plans of insurgents to extend their sphere of influence to Kashgar.
- 2.
- Petrov, the new Soviet Ambassador to China, arrived in Tihwa April 16 and left for Chungking on April 25. During his visit in Tihwa there were held a series of friendly conferences between Soviet representatives and Chiang Ching-kuo; and Ward states that for first time since his arrival in Tihwa there was evidenced a sincere effort on the part of the Chinese to seek Soviet good will. Chiang also left for Chungking on April 25, although on a different plane from that on which Petrov traveled. He was accompanied by Wu Chung-hsin who, having tendered his resignation, may not return to Sinkiang.
Hurley