793.94/10827: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Davies) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 25—8 a.m.]
276. For the President and the Secretary of State. Supplementing my telegram No. 265, October 14, 10 p.m.,62 I have the honor to report that today I received certain further information supplementary to the said cable and on the same authority which is as follows:
The Soviet Government refuses any definite commitment with reference to direct military aid and cooperation with China despite strong attitude of influential Far Eastern Soviet officials and some support here in military and other circles. Bogomolov, Soviet Ambassador to China, is still here. He will not return to China nor will he receive final instructions until conclusion of Brussels Conference. Same authority advises that in his opinion France is throwing cold water here on project of commitments for direct military aid to China by Russia because it prefers that its ally should husband its strength against a possible German attack and not deplete its energies in the Far East.
It was also stated that China is finding serious difficulties by restrictions on shipments through French Indo-China as a route for supplies. Overseas shipments are required to be split up and mixed with non-contraband goods on account of risk. There are indications that France fears lest it might become involved through shipments via this route. France and the Soviet Union are reluctant to become the spearhead in the situation without assurance of support from great powers.
With adequate supplies China, it is claimed, could make strong defense indefinitely. Difficulty does not lie in procuring supplies but in their transport.
Informant also advised that Germany’s attitude is not unfavorable to China and that despite formal objection raised by Japan to presence German instructors in Chinese armed forces German Government refused to require their return on the ground that it was a matter of private and individual enterprise.
[Page 641]China deeply disappointed by England’s alleged premature statement relative to sanctions and deeply grateful for President’s Chicago speech. They contrast less performance than they had reason to hope for from England with much greater moral support from the United States than they had reason to expect.
The Japanese Ambassador left here Wednesday for Berlin avowedly for the purpose of medical attention.
This message has not [sic] been repeated to Brussels but have made no personal commitment as to manner of transmission as in case of previous telegram where names were used.