Office of the Historian

761.9327/5–2349: Telegram

The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State

Canton, May 23, 1949—6 p. m.
[Received May 23—10:16 a. m.]

Cantel 452. After inquiry many quarters including Minister Commerce, I gather following is story re Sino-Soviet air pact renewal: Chang Chih-chung was authorized negotiate Soviets. Confronted with strong Soviet insistence for mere renewal pact 5 years, he agreed. Foreign Office objected, with result Soviet Ambassador37 inquired whether Chang Chih-chung was or was not authorized speak for Chinese Government. At Cabinet meeting it was decided Chang had been authorized and Government must approve his action. Confronted Soviet insistence there was little else to do. Foreign Office specialists on re-study pact have decided only monopolistic feature is traffic Hami-Alma-Ata and that Chinese Government is free negotiate similar air services any one country including US on any other routes northwest. It is anticipated pact will be extended this week unchanged for 5 years.

Sent Department Cantel 452, repeated Nanking 315, Shanghai 268, Tihwa 8.

Clark
  1. N. V. Roschin.↩