761.94/876
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Phillips)
The Soviet Ambassador68 having just returned from Russia called upon me this morning. In reply to my inquiry as to whether he had any new impressions about the situation in the Far East and in Europe, he said something along the following lines.
[Page 41]The border incidents in the Far East were disturbing but the Russian forces were still so strong that he did not believe that the Japanese Government intended any serious penetration. He admitted that the danger lay in the independent authority and possible action of local Japanese officers. He mentioned the fact that about two months ago a Japanese force of 100 men or so penetrated into Soviet territory to a distance of between three and four miles; that a comparatively small group of Russians fired upon them and killed eight or nine, but that this fracas had never been mentioned by the Japanese press. He thought that possibly the irritation on the border was kept alive by the Japanese in order to concentrate the interest of the Soviet forces in that vicinity and so leave the Mongolian frontier more exposed.
The Ambassador spoke with great enthusiasm about the morale in the Soviet Army, which he described as far superior to what it had been formerly; the modern army was educated, well clothed and disciplined, and which was of especial significance, had learned courtesy to and respect for women. For instance, he said that in the ordinary tramcars in Moscow, the Soviet soldier would always give his seat to a woman, whereas formerly that had never been the case.
In referring to Germany, he mentioned the generous credit which the German Government had offered for a period of ten years; he supposed the explanation lay in the fact that Germany needed raw materials which it could get from Russia, such as manganese, oil etc.; but the fact that Germany was willing to extend such huge credits indicated that there was no early intention at least of making war on Russia, for in such case Germany would incur great financial loss. The Ambassador thought that Czechoslovakia and Rumania were in considerable danger from Germany; he did not seem to feel that the same danger applied to Memel. He mentioned the fact that England and France were offering credits to Russia, and that there had been renewed efforts on their part for the settlement of debts, but he did not indicate that the Soviets had yielded in this respect. The Ambassador felt certain that the Sarraut’s Government in France would ratify the treaty of mutual assistance with Soviet Russia and do so in the near future.
I asked whether the Ambassador had returned to us with any renewed hope of a satisfactory disposition of our problems. He indicated that he had more hope now than he had after his previous visit and return, and I gained the impression that he may have new proposals to offer us.
- A. A. Troyanovsky.↩