761.93/533: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Bell) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 27—8:25 a.m.]
368. My 361, September 25, noon.27 Rosta’s agency in this morning’s press confirms negotiations between Soviet Government and Chang Tso-lin, stating that the understanding arrived at is almost a textual repetition of Koo-Karakhan agreement for provisional management of the Chinese Eastern Railway, of May 31st. There are other reports, however, that secret clauses are attachéd and Foreign Office on September 25th lodged protest with Soviet Embassy, Peking, against reported Chang Tso-lin-Soviet agreement calling [Page 510] the attention of the Russian Ambassador to Chang Tso-lin’s being in open rebellion against the Central Government and declaring if the report is true that it will not recognize such an agreement.
American consul Harbin reports as follows:
“At present detailed report difficult to obtain but it would appear that it was agreed that railway concession be reduced from 80 to 60 years. Local situation being carefully watched.
Strongly rumored at Harbin that under Mukden agreement Russian members of the board of directors and general manager of the railway will soon be replaced by Soviet appointees and that Chinese members of the board remain changed slightly so that Pao Kuei-ching becomes President”.
- Not printed.↩