CO129-619-1 Parliamentary delegation to China 1-9-1947 - 23-12-1947 — Page 123

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It is clear from the above that the allegation of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Soviet Government hindered the establishment of Chinese civil administration in the Port Arthur area and at Dairen does not correspond to reality and leads astray those not acquainted with the real state of affairs.

Also unfounded is the allegation by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs that as a result of the absence of Chinese Government troops in the area of the naval base, the Chinese Communists succeeded in setting up and increasing their armed forces around Port Arthur and Dairen. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware that neither around Port Arthur and Dairen nor on the territory of the whole naval base area are there or have there been any Chinese Communist armed forces.

As for the intention of the Chinese Government to send Chinese troops to the Port Arthur area, this is contrary to the Soviet-Chinese Agreement on Port Arthur, Article IV of which states: "The defence of the above mentioned naval base is entrusted by the Chinese Government to the Government of the U.S.S.R. For the purpose of defenging the naval base of the Government of the U.S.S.R. will set up there the necessary fortifications, the expenditure to be borne by the Soviet Government." Moreover, Article VI of the Agreement on Port Arthur states that the Government of the U.S.S.R. has the right to maintain in the area of the naval base "its military, naval and air forces and to determine their disposition." The Agreement does not envisage the quartering of Chinese troops in the Port Arthur area. Nor does the agreement on the port of Dairen envisage the quartering of Chinese troops in Dairen, but in accordance with this agreement, while the war with Japan exists, Dairen comes under the military regime established in the naval zone. Inasmuch as the state of war with Japan is not concluded, since there is still no peace treaty with Japan, the regime of the naval base extends to Dairen.

The Soviet Government, ever faithful to its international obligations, considers it essential in this case too to adhere strictly to the above mentioned articles of the Soviet-Chinese Agreements on Port Arthur and Dairon and considers that the precise and loyal cxecution of these articles is obligatory for both parties. The claims of the Chinese Government regarding the despatch of troops to the Port Arthur area and to Dairen are contrary to the above mentioned agreements.

The reference in the communique of the Chinese MFA to the fact that the Chinese civil administration will.allegedly not be able to carry out its functions without the presence of Chinese troops in the Port Arthur area is groundless. Public order and equally the security of the civil administration in the Port Arthur area and in Dairen can be fully secured by the Chinese police forces, to whose entry the Soviet Government has given its consent.

The assertion of the Chinese MFA that General Tung Yang- ping's group which recently visited the Port Arthur area and the port of Dairen received no assistance from the Soviet Command

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