740.00119PW/2–2646: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:30 p.m.]
272 [372]. During my conversation with Foreign Minister Wang Shih-chieh last evening (see Embassy’s 368, Feb. 2651) he said that the Russians were very difficult to deal with and had given no indication of date on which their troops would leave Manchuria; he said that on Feb. 1 and again on Feb. 19 he had inquired of Soviet Ambassador Petrov in this regard and each time Petrov replied that he had no information.
Dr. Wang said that the Chinese Govt, has not replied to the Russian proposal (this proposal is mentioned in Foreign Office note of Feb. 25 as “another memo presented to the officials of the Generalissimo’s Headquarters in Changchun”). Dr. Wang’s private secretary has informed me that this memo was undated and was handed informally on Jan. 15 or 16 in Changchun to Dr. Chang Chia-Ao,52 Chairman of the Economic Commission of Generalissimo’s Headquarters in the Northeast, who has been the Chinese negotiator with the Russians in Changchun. The Secretary added that Dr. Chang returned from Changchun to Chungking Feb. 2 since which time no discussions have been held with Russians.
Dr. Wang said that Chinese Govt, forces are in effective control of railroad from Chinwangtao to a point near Mukden; that two Chinese divisions are in suburbs of Mukden and could move into the city if the Russians would depart. He said that the Russians have perhaps 10,000 troops in Mukden and are in control of city; a Chinese appointed mayor is in Mukden, but has not been able to take over administration. Dr. Wang said the Chinese have about 3,000 military police in Changchun and a few civil officials in Harbin; both places remain in Russian control. He remarked that if the Russians would leave these three cities the Chinese could easily move in sufficient troops to assure safety. Dr. Wang said the Chinese do not know how many Russian troops are now in Manchuria.
Dr. Wang referred to the “patriotic demonstrations” by students and other Chinese which are now taking place in China and which seem to be increasing. He said that the Chinese Govt, desired to keep these under control as they might embarrass relation with the Russians. He stated that after the Feb. 16 demonstration by some Manchurian [Page 444] groups in Chungking the Russian Ambassador had “incidentally and informally protested”; Dr. Wang said that he told the Ambassador that if the Russians would remove the cause of the demonstrations by evacuating their troops from Manchuria, the demonstrations would not occur. Dr. Wang appeared very much concerned over the possible Russian reaction to these continuing demonstrations; he expressed the opinion that the Russian reaction would probably be known within a few days.
Dr. Wang said that he would continue to keep us informed regarding developments in Manchuria.
- Vol. x, p. 1109.↩
- Known as Chang Kia-ngau.↩