893.01 Outer Mongolia/89: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 3—6:50 a.m.]
97. Last evening in the course of a conversation at which I was present, Voroshilov33 said to Ohta, Japanese Ambassador, that although the Soviet Union desired peace any attack by Japan against Outer Mongolia would be met by an attack twice as severe.
The Japanese Ambassador answered that the fighting on the Mongol-Manchurian frontier was not to be taken seriously; that it was due purely to the fact that the frontier was not clearly marked.
Voroshilov replied that the frontier was extremely clearly marked and that the Soviet Union would repel any troops which might cross it.
Ohta replied that the new commander of the Japanese Armies in Manchuria was a man who had the complete confidence of Hirota and that he anticipated no further difficulties.
Voroshilov answered that he did anticipate further difficulties and that if war should break out soon Japan unquestionably would be defeated.
- Soviet Commissar for Defense.↩