861.77 Chinese Eastern/350
Statement by the Soviet Commissariat for Foreign Affairs73
On August 28th of the current year, at 4 o’clock p.m., the German Envoy in Moscow, Mr. von Dirksen, was at his own request received by the Acting Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Comrade M. M. Litvinov, and, acting upon instructions from the German Government, handed to the latter the following two documents which the Chinese Government had requested to have brought to the knowledge of the government of the U. S. S. R.
I. Note Verbale, Handed by the Chinese Mission in Berlin to the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on August 27th
(Translation from the German)
The Chinese Mission has the honor to state that the National Government, always guided by the desire to maintain peace, and to consolidate the relations with* states, is prepared to appoint plenipotentiary representatives for the signing of the declaration herewith enclosed.
The Chinese Mission will be greatly obliged to the Government of the Reich, if the latter will kindly bring the text of the declaration to the knowledge of the Soviet Government.
II. Text of the Joint Declaration
(Translation from the English)
1) Both sides declare that all disputes between the two sides they will settle in conformity with the agreement of 1924, and more particularly they will settle the conditions of buying out the Chinese Eastern Railway in conformity with article 9 of the Peking agreement.
Both sides will immediately and duly appoint plenipotentiary representatives to attend a conference which is to settle all the questions under dispute, mentioned in the previous paragraph.
2) Both sides hold that the situation on the Chinese Eastern Railway, come about after the conflict, should be changed in conformity with the Peking agreement and the Mukden agreement of 1924, it being understood that all such changes shall be resolved upon by the conference to be called according to the previous article.
3) The Soviet government will recommend a new Director and a new Vice Director for the Chinese Eastern Railway, who will be appointed by the Board of Administration of the said Railway.
The Soviet government will instruct the railway employees of Soviet nationality on the Chinese Eastern Railway to the effect that [Page 310] they are strictly to observe the provisions laid down in article 6 of the agreement of 1924.
4) Both sides will immediately release all persons arrested in connection with this incident, or after May 1, 1929.
On August 29 of the current year, at 6 o’clock p.m., the Acting Commissar of Foreign Affairs, Comrade M. M. Litvinov, received the German Envoy in Moscow, Mr. von Dirksen, and informed him that the government of the Union is prepared to accept the proposal of the Chinese Government to sign a joint declaration worded as follows:
1) Both sides declare that all disputes between the two sides they will settle in conformity with the agreement of 1924, and more particularly they will settle the conditions of buying out the Chinese Eastern Railway in conformity with article 9 of the Peking agreement.
Both sides will immediately and duly appoint plenipotentiary representatives to attend a conference which is to settle all the questions under dispute, mentioned in the previous paragraph.
2) Both sides hold that the situation on the Chinese Eastern Railway, come about after the conflict, should be changed in conformity with the Peking agreement and the Mukden agreement of 1924, it being understood that all such changes shall be resolved upon by the conference to be called according to the previous article.
3) The Soviet government will recommend a Director and a Vice Director for the Chinese Eastern Railway, who will be immediately appointed by the Board of Administration of the said railway.
The Soviet government will instruct the railway employees on the Chinese Eastern Railway, who are citizens of the U. S. S. R., and the Chinese Government will instruct its local authorities and their organs, to the effect that they are strictly to observe the provisions laid down in article 6 of the agreement of 1924.*
4) Both sides shall immediately release all persons arrested in connection with this incident, or after May 1, 1929.
In handing over the Soviet draft of the declaration, Comrade M. M. Litvinov at the same time informed Mr. von Dirksen that the government of the Union sees no reason to appoint a new Director and Vice Director in the place of the persons who originally had been lawfully appointed, carried out their functions in strict conformity with the treaties.
At the same time, Comrade Litvinov stated that in case the Chinese Government should appoint a new Chairman of the Board of Administration, in the place of the present Chairman who is directly responsible for the violation of the order of things established by the treaties on the Chinese Eastern Railway, the Commissariat of Foreign [Page 311] Affairs, in conformity with the unvarying policy of peace, pursued by the U. S. S. R., and meeting the wishes of the Chinese Government, would submit to the Soviet government the question of appointing a new Director and a new Vice Director. In this connection, Comrade Litvinov stated that, as is understood of itself, the appointment of Director and Vice Director would have to take place simultaneously with the signing of the text of the joint declaration.
- Translation from text printed in the Moscow Izveslia, No. 200, August 31, 1929; copy transmitted to the Department by the Minister in Latvia in his despatch No. 6397, September 11; received September 24, 1929.↩
- other [Footnote in the original.]↩
- Italics of the original text. [Footnote in the original.]↩