893.00/7–2547: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 25—7:55 a.m.]
1587. Following is Tihwa’s 311, July 21.
“Yesterday I again discussed with Abasoff38 present tension between Ili and Chinese. We conversed in Chinese lacking any reliable interpreters. He complains bitterly that the natives are being oppressed beyond endurance and while the Chinese spoke very fair words last fall, their actions are now becoming the same as Sheng’s [Page 571] regime. He claims that over 100 natives have been arrested here recently; repeats charge that no information regarding terms of agreement is yet permitted in Nanchiang (Embassy’s A–51 April 8)39 even in China and no Tihwa Turki news [or?] newspapers are allowed to circulate there; and adds that Ili publications are regularly intercepted and destroyed at Manass River crossing at Suilai and bearers imprisoned, 5 not having been heard from for over a month.
I pointed out that I had repeatedly requested Achmad, Abasoff himself, and other Ili leaders to provide a statement of their case written in Chinese or a Chinese Turki interpreter for Consulate, trusted by them, who could bring to my attention matters they felt should be reported to American Government. I made it apparent that the failure to furnish this information necessarily made [me dependent?] merely on Chinese sources and also left the impression that either the Ili case was too weak for presentation or that they felt no need for international interest in their problems. Abasoff promised to have Chinese translations made of news items from Turki press which would, he said, present their grievances clearly and have them sent to Consulate within a few days. While not sanguine of receiving them without further request if at all, I plan to send them to Embassy when received for carefully supervised translation.
General Sung believes that Ili troop effectives number more than 60,000 men and has reports that they are now being mobilized. General Chang seemed disturbed when I saw him on July 17. Mackiernan and I consider it possible that a sudden attack from several directions accompanied by cutting of the vulnerable road communications might produce a China routing. Paxton”