893.00/4–2547: Airgram
The Ambassador in China ( Stuart ) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 30—8:22 a.m.]
A–78. Following is Tihwa’s telegram No. 150, April 18, 4 p.m. to Embassy.
“Section 1 of 6. That Soviet Consulate General was of great assistance in arranging last year’s peace terms, General Sung17 admits. At present, however, its staff seems to him neither cooperative nor even intelligent but merely stupidly grasping at every small advantage. Whether this alteration, if factual, is due to change in personnel or in government policy, there is yet insufficient evidence for judgment.”
Following is Tihwa’s 152 of April 19, 3 p.m.:
“Section 2 Mytel 150 April 18. Admitting that Chinese oppression, bad faith and cultural intolerance even at present stage would be enough to alienate considerable native support; and that Chinese xenophobia has always inclined conveniently to blame ills due to their own shortcomings on foreign interference, still there are certain indications that the USSR has not failed to add to China’s recent problems by fomenting disorder here.”
Following is Tihwa’s 158 of April 21, noon:
Section 3 Mytel 150 April 18. Chinese charges of Soviet military assistance to insurgent forces have been previously reported. Recently Chairman told me that on his visit last year to Ining he himself saw 8 military planes and supply of artillery and machine guns which could only be of Soviet origin. While perhaps a modicum of small arms and ammunition might have been smuggled by tribesmen across the border, it is obvious that these larger weapons, (and ack-ack guns [Page 553] previously repeatedly seen by British Consul) could not have been brought in without official consent.”
Succeeding sections will be forwarded as received.
- Sung Hsi-lien, Commander of Chinese garrison troops in Sinkiang.↩