Memorandum, State Department Summary of Telegrams

leh DECLASSIFIED E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-402 DEPARTMENT OF STATE State Dept. Guideline, June 12, 1979 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY By NLT- HL NARS, Date 11-12-10 WASHINGTON November 29, 1946 SUMMARY OF TELEGRAMS CHINA The Chinese Ambassador to Moscow has intimated to Ambassador Smith that his Government has decided not to attempt to capture Harbin because of Stalin's warning that the USSR would not be indifferent to any action which would jeopardize the Soviets' paramount interest in the for- mer Chinese Eastern Railway. The Chinese Ambassador quoted Stalin as having said that the USSR needed the use of this railway during the 30 years required to make the Soviet Far East impregnable against attack by Japan. The Chinese Ambassador added that he had recommended to Nanking that it not run the fur- ther risk of inciting the USSR to retaliation by occupying Yenan, the Chinese Communist capital. FRANCE Caffery reports two currents of thought discernible in French press reaction to the serious situation in Indochina. Center and right wing groups believe that further negotiation with Vietnam is im- possible and that France must assert her sovereignty and if necessary send additional troops to Indochina to solve the present dispute by military means. Communist, Socialist and certain left wing papers believe a new sincere effort must be made to reach an agreement with Vietnam and this must include a dras- tie change in policy involving the end of efforts to set up a separate state of Cochin China. GREECE Ambassador MacVeagh has made clear to the King's political ad- viser that the formation of the broadest possible coalition government in Greece is still a matter of urgent necessity, particularly in connection with desired US assistance. MacVeagh added that if a government of national unity has not been formed before the Greek Prime Minister goes to New York in connection with frontier disturbances, he should be accompanied by opposition leaders to make clear that the Greek case has the full support of Greek political groups. IRAN Ambassador Allen believes that unless Soviet pressure is backed by movements of Soviet troops, neither Prime Minister Qavam or the Shah will abandon their present efforts to regain Iranian sovereignty over Azerbaijan. ITALY Our Charge in Rome reports that Admiral Stone believes we should make an effort to obtain an invitation from Italy for a purely US military mission for the post-treaty period. Our Charge recom- mends a US-UK mission in preference to a purely US mission in view of British susceptibilities and their military interest in Italy and the Mediterranean.