Office of the Historian

861.77 Chinese Eastern/191

Statement by the Soviet Commissariat for Foreign Affairs11

undated
[Translation]

In connection with the position, brought about as a result of the rupture of Chinese-Soviet relations, the French Government has addressed to the government of the U. S. S. R. an offer to take upon itself the mediation for the peaceful settlement of the Chinese-Soviet conflict.

This proposal was made in Paris on July 19 by Mr. Briand to the Political Representative of the U. S. S. R. in France, Comrade Dovgalevsky, direct, and in Moscow, by instruction of Mr. Briand, was communicated by the French Ambassador, Mr. Herbette, to the Vice People’s Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Comrade L. M. Karakhan, on Sunday, July 21.

Yesterday, July 22, the Vice People’s Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Comrade Karakhan, in the name of the government of the U. S. S. R. [Page 232] gave the answer to this proposal of France, declaring to the French Ambassador in Moscow, Mr. Herbette, that “the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France cannot but be duly appreciated. The government of the U. S. S. R. must, however, observe that this proposal becomes without point in view of the refusal of the Chinese authorities to restore the legal basis, by them violated, which is the necessary prerequisite for an agreement, pursuant to the note of the Soviet government of July 13. As regards the question of possible further complications, the government of the U. S. S. R. must declare that no one takes so much pains for the preservation of the peace as the Union government, so far as this depends upon it. There is no ground for doubting that the U. S. S. R. has been and remains the mainstay of the peace of the world.” (Tass.)

  1. Translation from text printed in the Moscow Izvestia, No. 166, July 23, 1929; copy transmitted to the Department by the Chargé in Latvia in his despatch No. 6315, July 30; received August 9, 1929.↩