761.93 Manchuria/124: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Kirk ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 26—6:45 a.m.]
202. My telegram No. 199, July 24, 4 p.m.,15 and previous. In the course of a conversation last night Litvinov discussed briefly the present Soviet-Japanese controversy. He said that the Soviet soldiers had every right to occupy the position to the west of Lake Khasan, that maps of long standing in the possession of Soviet Government proved definitely the Soviet contention and that, therefore, there was no reason why the soldiers should be withdrawn as the Japanese had requested. However, he said that he did not believe that this incident would result in hostilities, that the Soviet Union had no intention of “attacking” the Japanese and that he was informed that the Japanese military authorities were opposed to precipitating a conflict with the Soviets. Litvinov added that he had told the Japanese Ambassador that he would examine any proofs of the Japanese contention that the Ambassador might care to submit (see my 195, July 22, noon”) and that he supposed that the Japanese Government was now working on further representations to the Soviet Government which would encourage some adjustment of the controversy.
- Not printed.↩