761.93/11–2045
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The Chinese Ambassador85 called at his request to see the Secretary.
The Ambassador handed the Secretary a message he had received from his Foreign Minister.86
The Ambassador told the Secretary that there are over 2,000 Communist troops in Manchuria and the Chinese nationalists are forced to withdraw. The nationalist troops are already leaving, rather than be captured by the Communists, and it is impossible to send reinforcements.
The Ambassador said the Soviets are raising a question over the interpretation of the agreement concerning the Port of Dairen, which is set forth in the memorandum.
The Ambassador, replying to the Secretary’s question as to how far the Soviets have progressed in removal of troops from Manchuria, said withdrawal should be completed by the 3rd of December, but the Soviets are letting the Communists in. He stated that, although they have no proof, there is reason to believe that the Soviets are turning over to the Communists artillery and tanks. Also, it is known that there are Russian officers serving with Communist troops.
The Ambassador inquired about the plans for assigning a group of military advisers to China, and asked if the matter had been taken up [Page 1044] through the Chinese Embassy here, or through our Embassy at Chungking.
The Secretary said that he would take this up with Mr. Vincent87 and ask Mr. Vincent to advise the Ambassador. He said that General Wedemeyer had mentioned such a plan to him, but that arrangements were not complete, so far as he knew.