761.6211/93: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 24—11:15 a.m.]
465. My 464, August 24, 9 a.m. The text of the treaty was published in the Soviet press today and follows the outline given in my telegram under reference, with the addition of a preamble that the [Page 343] present treaty is based on the Soviet-German treaty of April 1926. As the press will undoubtedly carry the full text I will not telegraph it.
I am informed in strict confidence that a full “understanding” was reached last night between the Soviet and German Governments in reference to territorial questions in Eastern Europe whereby Estonia, Latvia, eastern Poland, and Bessarabia are recognized as spheres of Soviet vital interest. Apparently Finland was not mentioned. My informant added that article 4, which prohibits the contracting parties from joining any group of powers directed against the other, in addition to precluding Soviet adherence to any Anglo-French alliance will also preclude any German-Japanese collaboration. I am informed that the negotiations were conducted personally by Stalin who did not disguise from Ribbentrop that he had long been in favor of a Soviet-German rapprochement. When the treaty was concluded Stalin drank a toast to Hitler and to “the revival of the traditional German-Russian friendship”. As a result of the discussions dealing with territorial questions involving countries lying between Germany and the Soviet Union I am informed that there was a tacit agreement to the effect that the Soviet Union would be given territorial compensation, if it so desired, for both territorial changes which might be introduced by Germany in those regions.
Ribbentrop is flying back to Berlin at 2 p.m. today.