761.93/10–1245: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Robertson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 13—2:15 a.m.]
1788. Consul Ward at Tihwa reports under date October 7 in summary as follows (Embtel 1708, October 2 to Department repeated to Moscow):
The insurgents on October 3 asked for route by which delegates were to go but they did not, it is said, furnish information regarding names or number of delegates. The route through Suilai was given them and several Chinese officials in Tihwa are traveling to Suilai October 7 to prepare for reception of delegation and its conduct to Tihwa. It is expected that conference will open at Tihwa not later than October 12 on which date General Chang Chih-chung is expected to arrive Tihwa from Chungking. Considerable misgivings regarding prospects of peaceful settlement are still felt by General Chu Shao-liang. Feeling elsewhere, however, is somewhat more optimistic and arrival of delegation will in itself disprove largely the more extreme allegations of bad faith on part of Soviets in discharge of requested good offices. (Sent to Department, repeated to Moscow.) Ward informally informed October 6 by Foreign Office Secretary of some concern felt by Chinese authorities concerning possible Soviet reaction to supposedly pending visit of American Military Attaché; Ward assured Secretary that situation was thoroughly understood and that nothing would occur that could conceivably embarrass Soviet good offices or achievement of constructive settlement which we were all confident would be outcome. (End Summary).
Embassy is telegraphing Ward reiterating assurance telegraphed him October 1 that Military Attaché would not proceed to Tihwa pending further word from Ward.