761.9411/134
Press Release Issued by the Department of State on April 14, 1941
In reply to inquiries at his press conference today, the Secretary of State made the following statement:
“The significance of the pact between the Soviet Union and Japan relating to neutrality, as reported in the press today, could be overestimated. The agreement would seem to be descriptive of a situation which has in effect existed between the two countries for some time past. It therefore comes as no surprise, although there has existed doubt whether the two Governments would or would not agree to say it in writing. The policy of this Government, of course, remains unchanged.”