Cable No. 59976, Kovalev to Cde. Filippov [Stalin]

[handwritten: to Cde. Stalin]

SECOND DIRECTORATE OF THE USSR ARMED FORCES GENERAL STAFF

CABLE Nº 59976                                                            TOP SECRET

from PEKING   received at 13:55   11  November 1949    Copy Nº 1

MOLNIYA EH

to Cde. FILIPPOV

I report:

Through its Ministry of Trade the Chinese government the Chinese government has turned [to us] to clarify the question of the possibility of delivering 10,000 tons of grain from the Soviet Union to supply the soldiers of the Chinese PLA quartered in the province of XINJIANG. The Ministry reported that the grain needs to be shipped to XINJIANG by April 1950, and that wheat and corn can be shipped in any proportion at our discretion, but the cost of the Soviet grain [is to be] converted into partial payment for Chinese millet seeds.

If the grain will not be delivered from the USSR then the Chinese will ship grain out from the northeast regions of CHINA and in this event they will request they be permitted to ship the grain via our railroads.

Please report what answer [should] be given to the Chinese.

      Nº 274 KOVALEV, 11 November

Deciphered by Karpukhin
at 1430 11 November
Typed by Kornyushina
at 1445 11 November
Nº 7559

Eight copies printed. Nº 8 to file
Verified: shift chief Mokr[uko]

[Stamp: Subject to return to the
VKP(b) CC Special Section 2236
Incoming Nº 3877/shs 11 November 1949]