893.00/7–1247: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 12—9:25 a.m.]
1511. Sun Li-jen, Deputy Commander Northeast China Command, arrived Nanking for consultation in connection with situation Manchuria. General Sun stated in conversation with Embassy officer that for time being Communist pressure has been relaxed in Northeast but that their strength has not been materially affected and next 3 to 4 months will be critical period. According Sun, now is time for energetic regrouping and retraining of forces; unfortunately, however, there have been no replacements for units depleted by combat although some reinforcements have arrived in Northeast. In New First Army some replacements have been obtained by local recruiting.
Transportation remains difficult problem. Sun believes it would require at least 6 months to reestablish rail communications between Mukden and Changchun but at moment question is academic one because of almost complete lack of material.
Sun in reply to question stated that he constantly hears reports of Soviet advisors among Communists and Soviet nationals in combat with them but he personally cannot vouch for these reports. The general implication from his remarks was that he was not a believer of Central Govt releases to the effect that there has been large-scale Soviet intervention on a military level in the Northeast.
No mention of future position was made but Sun’s aide implied that Sun would return once more to Northeast, and then assume new post in Headquarters Army Ground Forces. Sun himself states that he would not know his future plans until he has been received by Generalissimo within next few days.