501.AA/7–1246: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
secret
us urgent
us urgent
New York
, July 12,
1946—8:15 p.m.
[Received July 12—7:54 p.m.]
[Received July 12—7:54 p.m.]
418. Dr. Quo, Chinese delegate, called to see me this morning on three matters.
- 1.
- He has received a telegram from the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding the application for membership in the United Nations of Outer Mongolia. The Chinese seem to be disturbed about this because of information they have obtained that a secret agreement exists between Outer Mongolia and Soviet Russia which the Chinese believe would authorize the maintenance of Russian troops in Outer Mongolia. Quo says that his Foreign Minister is of the opinion that China cannot support the application of Outer Mongolia until they know more about the terms of this secret agreement. This agreement they believe may be in violation of the Chinese-Russian treaty8 which recognized the status of Outer Mongolia as an independent nation and pledged both China and Russia to support its application for membership in the United Nations. The Chinese Foreign Minister has suggested to Dr. Quo that their information regarding this secret agreement between Outer Mongolia and Russia should be allowed to leak out to the press without its source becoming known. Dr. Quo has not yet, however, acted on this suggestion. Although he spoke with discretion he made it clear that he would welcome expression of opinion and even suggestions for [from?] our government. The Chinese Foreign Minister informed him that the US Government had expressed its willingness to support the application of Outer Mongolia and had even suggested to China that the latter should actively sponsor the application. I asked Dr. Quo where such a US suggestion had been made to the Chinese Government and he said he thought it was at Nanking. It is apparent that the Chinese Foreign Minister is troubled by this situation and what he believes to be our active sponsoring of the Outer [Page 414] Mongolia application. It would be appreciated by Dr. Quo and might be useful if the Department can give me a statement of its views and inform me whether the Chinese Foreign Minister’s information as sent to Dr. Quo is correct. If the secret treaty between Russia and Outer Mongolia exists in fact it would seem to me that it has an important bearing on the Outer Mongolian application for membership in the United Nations and its possible qualifications under the Charter. I would appreciate any information and views the Department may have in this matter.
[Here follows discussion of Other subjects.]
Johnson