893.00/7–247: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 3—12:10 a.m.]
1448. Tihwa’s 3 of 4; Mackiernan trip (Tihwa’s 288, June 28 to Embassy):
“Osman Bator, leader of Peitashan Kazaks, retreated there from Kurte (89 degrees 10 minutes east by 47 degrees 10 minutes north) with some 250 families mid-April this year. In May 100 odd more families came and others joined him later until he now has about 1200 yurts (families) under him.
Shortage of food at Peitashan reported by Osman. Kazaks brought all their goods with them as far as Chingil River (90 degrees 32 minutes east by 45 degrees 55 minutes north) but its water was too high to bring their 300,000 odd sheep across. Lack of mutton, their staple food, is causing hardship and discontent. Osman intends to meet this difficulty by sending men to bring back as many sheep as possible when military situation permits. The Chinese are also helping with provision of some sheep and flour. The Russians are playing on this discontent, he says, by promising sheep to all who return to northern Ashan Zone.
[Page 569]Most of Ashan Zone, according to Osman, is to all intents a part of the Soviet Union. He further says that Ili and Tahcheng zones are also Soviet dominated though activities are less openly carried on in these areas than in Ashan zone.
The Outer Mongolians now aim, Osman believes, to occupy Peitashan completely in order to secure eastern flank of Altai range and thus remove the last of Chinese influence from entire zone. Later on he says they may attempt to push southeast to the Barkul and Karliktagh mountains and thus threaten the roads from Kansu into eastern Sinkiang.
The Kazaks in Peitashan are all loyal to Osman and regard him as an able leader who will do his best to get them back to their native home in northern Ashan. Osman declares that given an initial supply of weapons and ammunition, sufficient to start an offensive, he could remove Outer Mongolian threat to Peitashan and clear Ashan zone of the Reds under Talihan, keeping themselves supplied as they advance by capture of material from the opposition. Paxton”