811.20 Defense (M)/8172: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Gauss)
Washington, August 15,
1942—8 p.m.
736. Your no. 919, August 8.
- 1.
- Metals Reserve states that at this time it is more important to obtain tungsten from China than tin. No arrangements have yet been made for the diversion of Chinese tin to Russia and, unless and until such arrangements are completed, Chinese should not be encouraged to believe that we will be able to lift tin supplies from China. Metals [Page 663] Reserve believes payment for tin already shipped from Kunming in June should be paid for in accordance with existing contract, any freight charges advanced by us to be deducted from contract price.
- 2.
- Yin of the Chinese National Resources Commission states that he has received telegram from the Commission to the effect that supplies of tungsten available for shipment are about exhausted and requests permission to ship tin “temporarily” until further tungsten available. Kunming’s telegrams indicate that up to August 1, approximately 275 tons of tungsten had been shipped. Kunming’s no. 36, July 231 indicates approximately 1,600 tons tungsten available Kunming and vicinity. Yin’s report appears entirely at variance with the foregoing and with the reports that Lavrov brought with him. Please investigate and report promptly with recommendations.
Hull
- Not printed.↩