761.93/647
The Consul at Mukden (Myers) to the Minister in China (MacMurray)69
Sir: As of possible interest to the Legation, I have the honor to report that Mr. Melnikoff, Soviet Consul General, Harbin, arrived at Mukden a few days ago and had an interview with Chief Commander Chang Hsueh-liang yesterday noon. His coming was apparently a surprise and prior to the interview the nature of his mission was unknown to the Chinese Authorities. According to reliable information the general purport of this interview is as follows:
After the introduction by the local Soviet Consul and the usual preliminaries, Mr. Melnikoff stated that he was a prominent figure in Soviet Russia and that he was invested with much broader powers than usually pertain to the office of Consul. He stated further that for the improvement of Soviet-Chinese relations a new treaty is necessary and that he was ready to start negotiations at once. General Chang replied that he did not see the need of a new treaty and furthermore he was not in a position to negotiate a treaty as his father had done in 1924; that he was a member of a “Party” too, whose authorization was a prerequisite to undertaking such an important matter.
Mr. Melnikoff then referred to the taking over of the telephone service at Harbin of the Chinese Eastern Railway which was characterized as a violation of the Chinese-Soviet agreements. In General Chang’s response it was pointed out that the agreements only related to the railway and not to telephones; that the Chinese only resorted to this action to prevent impairment of its sovereignty; that the Chinese Authorities who had addressed the Chinese Eastern Railway three times in regard to this matter without receiving a reply were obliged to take over the service for the protection of China’s rights. He also stated that he might be forced to take still further measures for the same reason.
Mr. Melnikoff then mentioned that Chang Ko-chen, Chief of the Educational Administration, Harbin, was carrying things too far, to which the General replied that any complaints he had to make should be submitted to the local authorities (Harbin). General Chang added that he personally knew Chang Ko-chen and was ready to support him in everything he has done.
[Page 191]Reference was made by Mr. Melnikoff to the poor treatment accorded by the Chinese Authorities to Soviet citizens in North Manchuria. General Chang objected to this charge stating that Soviet citizens were being treated fairly in his territory in marked contrast to the treatment which Chinese citizens are receiving in Soviet territory.
The matter of the employment of “White” Russians by the Mukden Government was brought up by Mr. Melnikoff and described as a breach of treaty. General Chang took exception to his statement and replied that no agreements were violated by the employment of these Russians. He added that while the Chinese for humanitarian reasons are giving these Russians a chance to earn a livelihood the Soviet Government prevents them from returning to their homes and only desires to persecute them; and also that the Chinese are the masters, the “White” Russians being merely employees.
During the brief conversation that followed, General Chang stated that he was glad to know that Mr. Melnikoff intended to remain in Mukden for a week or more in order to meet Chinese officials and others and that he was sure that the opinions he had expressed were shared by all members of his Government.
General Chang, it has been reliably learned, did not once refer to any Chinese present for information in regard to any of the matters raised. The clear-cut and bold responses which the General had ready for each statement of Mr. Melnikoff and the grasp of the situation which they exhibited must have caused no little surprise to the Soviet representatives present—the local Consul and interpreter besides Mr. Melnikoff. His own subordinates were not a little astonished. It is surmised that the General’s attitude as exhibited at this interview will forestall further advances for the present at least.
Regarding the employment of “White” Russians, it is reliably stated that there are secret stipulations attached to the Mukden Agreement providing that no “White” Russians shall be employed as advisers or in other capacities by the Mukden Government. This, it is said, was unknown to General Chang at the time of the interview. It is understood that General Chang proposes to publish this secret part of the agreement if the Soviet Government presses this point. A case which Melnikoff had, no doubt, in mind is the recent appointment of Ostroumoff,70 of Harbin, as adviser to the Communications Commission at Mukden.
This office will report any additional information on this subject that may come to its notice.
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