793.94 Conference/84: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Davies) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 22—9:20 a.m.]
275. Supplementing my telegram No. 269, of October 18, 9 p.m. I am able to advise that the attitude of the Soviet Government with reference to Brussels Conference has been defined by a responsible official in the Soviet Foreign Office in an informal conversation as follows:
- 1.
- The Soviet Government is always ready to collaborate in any action that might lead toward the strengthening of peace and the restraining of an aggressor. However, the Soviet Union could not consider itself bound by any decisions adopted by a conference in which it did not participate. If the Soviet Union were invited to attend it would support any measures proposed which would lead to a cessation of hostilities in the Orient. It would not be bound by any measures adopted prior to Soviet participation.
- 2.
- The Soviet Union considers it unfortunate that the Conference is not limited to the four Powers having major interests in the Pacific, [Page 101] i. e., the United States, Great Britain, Japan and the Soviet Union and that certain powers, notably Portugal and Italy, has [have] been invited notwithstanding there [their] adherence to the Nine-Power Pact. It is of the opinion that if Germany is also invited a Fascist block capable of undermining the work of the Conference would emerge.
- 3.
- The Soviet Union is at present watchfully waiting and is not disposed to commit itself or publicly express an opinion on the Conference until an invitation to participate is received.
- 4.
- The Soviet Government does not believe that Japanese aggression in China can be restrained by mere moral condemnation of Japan but that more resolute action such as economic, financial and political, or a boycott of Japanese goods is necessary. It believes that any prolonged discussions comparable to those carried on in the London Nonintervention Committee or prior to the Italian conquest of Abyssinia will only tend to convince Japan that no resolute action will be taken. It is of the opinion that the Japanese should be made to realize that their present policy will not be tolerated and that strong action will be taken if they prove recalcitrant to the decisions of the Conference. The Soviet Union decries any attempt to save Japanese face.
Although the Embassy obtained the definite opinion that the Soviet Union was considerably perturbed at not having been invited to attend the initial sessions of the Conference there would seem to be little doubt that it would willingly accept a future invitation to participate.
The Foreign Office official openly criticized the position of England in the development of events in the Orient. On the other hand he enthusiastically welcomed President Roosevelt’s Chicago speech and the Department’s recent declaration as a turn from isolationism toward international cooperation.
Repeated to Brussels by mail.