761.9415 Amur River/8: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union ( Davies ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 2—3:40 p.m.]
145. For the President and Secretary Hull. Supplementing my cable No. 141 of July 1, 4 p.m. Saw Litvinov today following requested appointment and advised him that on personal initiative entirely, had interviewed Japanese Ambassador to obtain first-hand information on islands dispute and to express personal hope that the situation would be localized and not permitted to develop in such a way as to threaten peace. I stated that again without instructions from my Government I desired to express to him personally the same hope. Litvinov stated he was very glad of the opportunity to explain the Soviet version of the dispute, which he did generally, as set forth in the published Soviet communiqués. He stated further that his concrete proposal to the Japanese Ambassador was that both parties should withdraw armed forces from locality pending discussion of juridical question of boundary line; that Japanese Ambassador refused to acquiesce in agreement of joint withdrawal and insisted upon Soviet withdrawal, leaving matter of Japanese withdrawal to subsequent developments. Litvinov’s attitude was it was clear that neither party desired to admit by implication or otherwise legal rights of other party but that to avoid possibility of military clashes pending discussions the important point to be agreed upon was that armed forces of both sides should withdraw from locality simultaneously. He stated that he had made it plain to the Japanese Ambassador that the Soviet Union could not be bluffed but would cooperate [Page 926] in real effort to adjust matter juridically and while so doing avoid possibility of contact and clashes of armed forces pending discussions. Litvinov stated he had asked Japanese Ambassador to call today; but up to 4:00 o’clock he had not heard from him. Litvinov insisted his every effort was to localize trouble and preserve peace as Soviet-Japanese war would inevitably result in general European war. He also expressed appreciation of my interest manifested in the cause of preserving peace, which he said he felt sure represented the real attitude of the President of the United States and Secretary Hull, even though there was no official authorization for my comments.