893.9111 R.R./12–3146: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 31—3:22 a.m.]
2211. Comments on Dairen by Foreign Office spokesman George Yeh at Ministry of Information press conference 30th:
“Chinese Government adheres to terms of Sino-Soviet treaty on Dairen which only places Dairen under the sphere of military control in case of war with Japan. We do not consider a state of war exists now in the case of Soviet Russia and China on one hand and Japan on the other hand. So administration of Dairen is clearly under Chinese jurisdiction.”
[Page 1200]Queried if China would immediately take over jurisdiction of Dairen if there were no Chinese Communist obstruction, Yeh replied, “yes, legally we have every right to. You may recall in this connection that last May 23 Soviet Ambassador notified the Chinese Govt that as of May 3 all Soviet troops had been withdrawn from the northeastern provinces of which Dairen is an integral part.”
Queried about the recent United States naval courier ship incident, Yeh replied, “our Government has not yet received official reports and therefore cannot form judgment on information at hand”.