761.6211/67: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 22—5:50 p.m.]
863. My 862, August 22, 7 p.m.8 According to a member of the Soviet Embassy here the Soviet Chargé d’Affaires who returned to Moscow last night was first informed concerning the nonaggression pact 2 or 3 days ago and then merely partially so for the purpose of arranging Ribbentrop’s visit and that Maisky9 in London was apparently not informed and sought news of the pact from the Embassy here last night. As described by this source the reasons for Russia’s new alignment with Germany are: refusal of the British and French military authorities to accord full information respecting their armies; the British and French refusal to provide for more than a basis of consultation in case of war; the concessions made by the British to the Japanese in the Far East and mistrust of the character of the present British Government which it was feared was prepared to arrange a “second Munich” with respect to Poland. On that consideration the Soviet Government regarded that in its own defense it was necessary to mark a definite improvement in its relations with Germany and accordingly had decided to agree to the present pact. The same informant without making any definite assertion sought to convey in his conversation the impression that there was no intention to exclude the possibility that the Anglo-French-Soviet negotiations would be continued and intimated that even after a conclusion of the pact, in the event of a flagrant act of aggression on the part of Germany against Poland, Russia might align itself against Germany. The opinion was also expressed that the announcement of the accord might postpone for a few days whatever [Page 339] German action was intended in order that time might be given to sound out foreign reaction and to await the effect on Polish resistance.