Office of the Historian

893.00/7–1247: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State

Nanking, July 12, 1947.
[Received July 12—10:57 a.m.]

1513. Following is Central News Agency English service at Nanking, July 11:

“It is learned from an official source that the Chinese Government has lodged fresh protests with Outer Mongolia.

In its note of June 22, 1947, the Outer Mongolian Government replied to the Chinese protest concerning Outer Mongolian attacks on Peitashan, giving an account composed mainly of falsehoods and evasions. On June 27 the Outer Mongolian Government addressed a note to the Chinese Government, making the false charge that Chiese troops had crossed the border to attack Outer Mongolian position. Based on facts ascertained through careful investigations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has on July 8 and 10 ordered the Chinese Ambassador at Moscow to lodge again notes of protest with the Outer Mongolian Government. The main points of the notes are as follows:

1.
When the Chinese Government recognized the independence of Outer Mongolia it was agreed that the existing boundary of Outer Mongolia should become the boundary of that country after its independence. As Outer Mongolia was a part of China up to that moment, the legal existing boundary is the one defined by the Chinese Government before that date. Peitashan is clearly on this side of the boundary line and within the territorial limits of Sinkiang Province. This is substantiated by the fact that Chinese police and troops assigned [Page 570] by Sinkiang provincial authorities guard and patrol the district. It was the case before the independence of Outer Mongolia; it has been so ever since.
2.
The troops of Outer Mongolia have penetrated over 200 kilometers of Chinese territory to make attacks on Chinese troops stationed at Peitashan. Such a grave situation certainly cannot be regarded as an ordinary border incident.
3.
Even if the military attack of June 5 is regarded as having originated from a so-called “boundary incident”, why did the Outer Mongolian Government fail to seek a peaceful settlement in accordance with international practice and terms United Nations Charter?37 Why did Outer Mongolian Government dispatch a 48-hour ultimatum to the local Chinese garrison and immediately afterwards launch an attack on the Chinese troops there? The conduct of Outer Mongolia clearly indicates that she has no regard either for peace or for international law observed and respected by other nations.
4.
From June 6 to June 30, 1947, Outer Mongolian forces continued to violate Chinese territory and make attacks on Chinese troops. Militant planes from Outer Mongolia also repeatedly flew over Chinese territory for purposes of observation, bombing and strafing.
5.
Besides demanding the punishment of those responsible for the attacks and a guarantee against any further occurrence of similar attacks and reserving the right to claim damages, the Chinese Government insists that the Outer Mongolian Government must immediately order the withdrawal of its troops from Sinkiang.”

Nanking, July 11 (Central): The Chinese Government has, after careful investigation of facts, addressed another note to the USSR reiterating the previous Chinese protest against air attacks made by Soviet military planes on Peitashan.

Stuart
  1. Signed at San Francisco, June 26, 1945; Department of State Treaty Series No. 993, or 59 Stat. (pt. 2) 1031.↩