During his stay in Shanghai, Mr. Joffe has had several conversation with Dr. Sun Yat-sen, which have revealed the identity of their views on matters relating to Chinese-Russian relations, more especially on the following points :—
(1) Dr Sun Yat-sen holds that the Communistic order or even the Soviet system cannot actually be introduced into China, because there do not exist here the conditions for the successful establishment of either Communism or Sovietism. This view is entirely shared by M. Joffe, who is further of opinion that China's paramount and most pressing problem is to achieve national unification and attain full national independence, and regarding this great task, he has assured Dr. Sun Yat-sen that China has the warmest sympathy of the Russian people and can count on the support of Russia.
(2) In order to clarify the situation, Dr. Sun Yat-sen has requested M. Joffe for a reaffirmation of the principles defined in the Russian Note to the Chinese Government dated September 27, 1920. M. Joffe has accordingly re-affirmed these principles and categorically declared to Dr. Sun Yat-sen that the Russian Government is ready and willing to enter into negotiations with China on the basis of renunciation by Russia of all the Treaties and exactions which the Tsardom imposed on China, including the Treaty of Treaties and agreements relating to the Chinese Eastern Railway (the management of which being the subject of a specific reference in Article VII of the said Note).
(3) Recognizing that the Chinese Eastern Railway question in its entirely can be satisfactorily settled only at a competent Russo-Chinese Conference, Dr. Sun Yat-sen is of the opinion tha the realities of the situation point to the desirability of a modus vivendi in the matter of the present management of the Railway. And he agrees with M. Joffe that the existing Railway management should be temporarily reorganized by agreement between the Chinese and the Russian Government, without prejudice, however, to the true rights and special interests of either party. At the same time Dr. Sun Yat-sen considers that General Chang Tso-lin should be consulted on the point.
(4) M. Joffe has categorically declared to Dr. Sun Yat-sen (who has fully satisfied himself as to this) that it is not and never has been the intention or purpose of the present Russian Government to pursue an Imperialistic policy in Outer Mongolia, or to cause it to secede from China. Dr. Sun Yat-sen, therefore, does not view an immediate evacuation of Russian troops from Outer Mongolia as either imperative or in the real interest of China, the more so on account of the inability of the present Government at Peking to prevent such an evacuation being followed by a recrudescence of intrigues and hostile activities by White Guardists against Russia and the creation of a graver situation than that which now exists.
M. Joffe has parted from Dr. Sun Yat-sen on the most cordial and friendly terms. On leaving Japan to which he is now proceeding, he will again visit South China before finally returning to Peking.