893.00/11–3045: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 30—8:50 a.m.]
2068. By telegram November 28 Ward reports that all three rebel delegates departed November 27 for Ining by Soviet plane to present Chinese offer of Hsien (district) autonomy to rebel regime. (Embassy’s 2047, November 27 to Dept repeated Moscow.) Ward states rebel delegates will return in about 10 days. Ward reports Chinese continue confident of an easy settlement but some native informants remain doubtful. (Sent to Dept; repeated Moscow.) Ward states that recent heavy snowfall would provide water for long-range rebel cavalry movements over desert and steppe, while colder weather would be handicap to Chinese.