761.93 Manchuria/155: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 4—5:30 p.m.]
228. Reference my telegram 223, August 3, midnight. A member of the Japanese Embassy informed me today that the Japanese Ambassador acting under instructions from his Government called on [Page 467] Litvinov this afternoon and made the following proposals in the name of the Japanese Government which were also presented to the Soviet Chargé d’Affaires in Tokyo.
- 1.
- The immediate cessation of hostilities in the area to be followed by discussions through diplomatic channels in regard to the means of establishing a truce.
- 2.
- Following the cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a truce, the Japanese Government was prepared to discuss the question of the frontier in that region on the basis of the merits of the case, and each side would then present documentary and other evidence to substantiate its claim to the region in dispute. Litvinov, according to the official of the Japanese Embassy, without definitely rejecting the entire Japanese proposal, stated that the Soviet Government could agree to no cessation of hostilities until the Japanese troops had withdrawn behind the frontier line shown on the map annexed to the Hunchun Treaty, which had been published yesterday in the Soviet press, but that following withdrawal behind what the Soviet Government had maintained and continued to maintain was the correct frontier line, the Soviet Government would then be glad to bring about the immediate cessation of hostilities and discuss with the Japanese Government the exact demarcation of the frontier.
My informant added that the discussion lasted over 2½ hours and consisted largely of reiterations of the respective positions indicated above without making any progress towards their reconciliation. He believed, however, that while no progress had been made in today’s conversation it did not mean that the door was shut for future conversations between the two Governments. The Japanese Ambassador, I understand, is reporting to his Government and does not intend to seek a further interview with Litvinov pending the receipt of further instructions from Tokyo.