761.93/5–445: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Hurley) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 4—2:05 p.m.]
724. The new Soviet Ambassador, Mr. A. A. Petrov, reached Chungking April 30. His arrival in China prompted the writing of a number of newspaper editorials on Sino-Soviet relations.
[Page 862]Nearly all of the editorials express the belief that the denunciation by the Soviet Union of the Russo-Japanese neutrality pact,27 the despatch of a new ambassador to China, and the participation of both Russian and Chinese delegates on [in] the San Francisco Conference are indication of renewed Russian interest in the Far East. Russia is expected to enter the war against Japan as soon as conditions in Europe make it possible, and China should therefore make every effort to improve relations with its powerful neighbor.
The friendship of Lenin and Sun Yat-sen is recalled, as well as various occasions when the Soviet Union has helped China, particular stress being laid upon the assistance given after the Japanese invasion in 1937. Sun’s death-bed message to the Soviet Government, expressing hope for permanent fraternal relations between the two countries, is quoted and attention is called to the similarities in their ideals of national reconstruction. Japan is blamed for the various periods of friction between them, and it is explained that Russia had no alternative but to sign the neutrality pact with Japan after the European situation became critical. The statement is made and reiterated that both countries desire peace and that neither wants territory of the other. Not only will China and Russia benefit from improved relations, but the peace of the whole world will thereby be made more secure.
Some of the editorials stress certain points which are either passed over or omitted by others. For example, the Kuo Min Kung Pao declares that the preservation of its ancient territory is the foundation of Chinese foreign policy, and that Russia and China should make a treaty permanently defining their common boundary and recognizing that Manchuria, Outer Mongolia, Sinkiang and Tibet belong to China. The Chung Yang Jih Pao, after listing various characteristics and experiences shared by China and Russia including their ill treatment at the hands of other states, declares “All the cheap anti-Soviet and anti-Chinese propaganda in the world cannot successfully obstruct the mutual confidence and mutual assistance of these two great nations”.
In its editorial, the Communist Hsin Hua Jih Pao traces the history of Soviet aid to China, but with somewhat different emphasis. Part of this editorial was cut by the censor, but the editor succeeded in conveying the idea that the blame for previous Soviet-Chinese misunderstanding and for Chinese anti-Russian feeling should be laid at the door of the Kuomintang. The primary aim of this editorial, apparently, was to defeat the assertions of goodwill toward the USSR [Page 863] being given official expression. Entitled “Mere talk of friendship is not enough”, the editorial demands that proper steps be taken to put into effect the policy of Sun Yat-sen to form “Alliance with Russia”.
Possibly in answer to the demand of the Communist organ for more than words, the Ta Kung Pao several days later made four proposals: (1) That a Combined Chiefs of Staff organization be set up, including China, Russia, the United States and Great Britain (and perhaps other interested nations) to work out plans for joint operations against Japan. (2) That China and the Soviet Union sign a mutual assistance pact to include, among other things, procedure to govern the operations of Russian troops in Chinese territory. (3) That China and Russia sign a treaty delimiting the long boundary between [them] and providing for non-fortification of the frontier. In this connection, the granting of a high degree of autonomy to Sinkiang and Outer Mongolia is urged, even the granting to the latter of a federal relationship with China. (4) That China and Russia immediately begin the discussion of postwar problems. The two countries should cooperate in the control of Japan and join in guaranteeing the independence of Korea.
Repeated to Moscow.
- Signed at Moscow, April 13, 1941; see telegram No. 763, April 13, 1941, 11 p.m., from the Ambassador in the Soviet Union, Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. iv, p. 944.↩