761.93/9–745
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Ballantine) to the Under Secretary of State (Acheson)
Mr. Acheson: In Chungking’s telegram no. 1540, September 7, Ambassador Hurley states that “we advised Generalissimo to take up matter [uprisings in the Chinese province of Sinkiang]58 through diplomatic channels with Moscow before taking other action”. The Generalissimo agreed to do so.
Since November 1944, non-Chinese peoples in Sinkiang have been rebelling against Chinese authority. These events have aroused, principally among the Chinese, suspicion of Soviet investigation and intervention. American consuls in Sinkiang have pointed out at length plausible indigenous causes for these outbreaks.
Sinkiang and the autonomous republic of the Soviet Union have common boundaries, similar peoples, and related economic problems. Soviet economic assistance and advisers bolstered up an autonomous administration in Sinkiang from 1933 until 1943, when Soviet personnel was withdrawn. The recent Sino-Soviet agreements provide that “as to latest events in Sinkiang, the Soviet Government confirms that, as stated in Article V of the Treaty of Friendship and Alliance, it has no intention to interfere with China’s internal affairs”.59
In the circumstances it is doubtful that the Soviet Government will give heed to a Chinese approach on the subject.