793.94/14152: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 24—7:15 a.m.]
365. My 359, October 15, noon.56 The newspaper Red Star, organ of the Commissariat for Defense, in commenting today on the capture of Canton repeats the previously expressed Soviet view that this new Japanese action is a direct result of the capitulation of the democratic powers to Japan’s “Anti-Commintern” allies in Europe and that the resultant economic and strategic blow to Hong Kong is further proof that Chamberlain’s policy is destructive to Britain’s own interests since the threat to British possessions in the Far East is becoming more real.
The article also states that the capture of Canton does not mean that the war in China is any closer to a conclusion but that on the contrary the Chinese will continue to defend their territory and that widespread guerrilla warfare will prevent the Japanese from consolidating their position in southern China as has proved the case in the northern and central areas.
- Not printed.↩