861.77 Chinese Eastern/318: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
815. Legation’s 814, September 11, noon.82 Following from Kuo Wen News Agency, Shanghai, September 9th: [Page 318]
“Dr. C. T. Wang declined to comment this afternoon on the proposed joint Sino-Russian declaration saying that the matter is still under discussion.
Asked for his views on the renewal of Soviet attacks on Chinese border towns, the Foreign Minister said that China had made adequate preparations and that if Russia was set on provoking conflict the Chinese Army would not hesitate to defend the country against Red aggression; by renewing its campaign of bluff and intimidation the Soviet Government had shown the world that its [word] could not be trusted. Dr. Wang concluded by voicing his confidence in the ultimate triumph of China in the present controversy.”
Following from Reuter, Moscow, September 10:
“The Foreign Commissariat has handed a statement to the German Ambassador here with the request that he transmit it to the Mukden and Nanking Governments.83
It says there have ‘been 19 new cases of attack on Soviet territory by Chinese military units and White Guard gangs’ for which it lays full responsibility on the Nanking and Mukden Governments.
The statement goes on to say that the Soviet troops along the border have been compelled in self-defense to take firm retaliatory action to protect the frontier and the peaceful population.
In conclusion asks for the serious attention of the Nanking and Mukden Governments to the ‘painful consequences which may take place in case of new provocative attacks by Chinese troops and Russian White Guards.’”
- Telegram in two sections.↩
- Not printed.↩
- A translation of this statement, dated September 9, 1929, as printed in the Izvestia of September 10, was forwarded to the Department by the Minister in Latvia with despatch No. 6422, September 19. The translation of a further note, dated September 25, reporting more alleged border clashes, printed in the Izvestia of September 26, was enclosed with the Minister’s despatch No. 6455, October 2 (861.77 Chinese Eastern/370,398). Despatches and translations of Soviet notes not printed.↩