893.00/5–3047: Airgram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 4—9:41 a.m.]
A–116. Following is Tihwa’s 223, May 26, 10 p.m.
“Mytel 215, May 22, section 4: d) It is finally within reason that Russia is glad to keep restlessness stirring here and will continue to furnish enough ferment to prevent any conclusive settlement each time one approaches. Present amorphous status may suit Soviet book since it provides all that is required without serious effort or cost. Current ‘war of nerves’ which keeps everyone agitated, may be intended to conceal basic purpose of merely fomenting continued disorder. Chinese fear of actual Soviet attack calls for more Central Government armed forces than are needed to maintain local order and their presence in province is another disturbing factor in addition to general alarm arising from recurrent rumors of trouble to come.
“This hypothesis would of course render plausible Sung’s proposition rebutted in foregoing paragraph (a) and would also account for failure of Ining group to implement terms of military agreement without explanation.
“No one with whom I have discussed the situation has brought forth any such suggestion nor have I yet mentioned it. However, analysis in past six months has produced no explanation accounting for more facts and indicating motivation for more rumors than this does. Paxton.”