761.9315 Manchuria/210: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 1—1:55 p.m.]
Following from Harbin to Peiping:
“4, January 31, 3 p.m. My telegram No. 3 of January 28, noon.23 According to Rogov, the Acting Soviet Consul General, the conference [Page 638] ended in failure yesterday afternoon after its 18th meeting with absolutely nothing accomplished. The Soviet-Outer Mongolian delegates who were refused permission by Moscow to accept an invitation to visit Hsinking left for home this morning.
The Japanese Consul General cannot be seen until tomorrow morning at which time Rogov says a statement will be released to the press.
Rogov now states that he misinformed me as to dimensions of the section of the border to be demarcated which he insists was accepted in principle by the Supreme Council at Moscow in advance. This line which is occupied by Russian troops includes the one described in my telegram No. 31 of December 28, 6 p.m., and my despatch No. 190 of January 2,24 but extends from Lake Buir almost 200 kilometers toward Halunarshan to a point where the Nurmingol River flows into the Halha and reaches into Manchurian territory in places as far as 60 kilometers. Such a line would, of course, have been much more difficult for the Japanese to accept than the one previously described.
Although not worried about any contingencies Rogov is extremely discouraged regarding Soviet-Japanese relations in general. He is convinced, for example, that there is no possibility of reaching a trade agreement at this time and predicts a recrudescence of boundary incidents in the spring.
Repeated to Tokyo and Moscow.”
Repeated to Chungking.