893.00/1–2349: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 23—5:30 a. m.]
197. Representative of Acting President Li Tsung-jen called on me this afternoon (January 22) to explain in futher detail reasons for [Page 78] Li’s request of yesterday for American supporting statement (see Embtel 186, January 22). He said that Li had been in touch with the Soviet Embassy through an intermediary and had worked out a tentative three-point draft agreement between China and the USSR which the Soviet Ambassador48 had taken with him to Moscow earlier this week. Points are: (1) Strict Chinese neutrality in any future international conflict; (2) eliminate American influence as much as possible from China; (3) establish a basis of real cooperation between USSR and China.
According to our informant, Li has already agreed to these points in principle although how he intends to implement them even if agreed to in Moscow not clear. Li’s representative said that Acting President felt that a statement of support from the US at this time would strengthen his position in Moscow during the period of Roschin’s visit there. I, of course, made no comment.
Sent Department 197, repeated Moscow 7.
- N. V. Roschin.↩