761.6211/222: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:25 p.m.]
1472. DNB early this morning published reports from Moscow giving the text of the agreements concluded between Germany and Russia in Moscow33 which in summary are as follows.
1. Treaty signed September 28 and effective immediately upon signature defining a common German-Russian frontier in former Polish territory. Both parties recognize this line as final and “will reject any intervention by third powers in this settlement.”
According to the description given by DNB this frontier begins at the southern tip of Lithuania, runs from there in a general westerly direction north of Augustowo to the frontier of the German Reich and follows this frontier to the Pisa River. From there it follows the course of the Pisa as far as Ostrolenka. It then runs in a southeasterly direction until it reaches the Bug River near Nur. It continues to run along the Bug as far as Krystynopol then turns to the west and runs north of Rawa Ruska and Lubaczow to the San. From here it follows the course of the San up to its source.
In the treaty Germany and Russia declare that they consider this settlement as a sure foundation for a continuing development of friendly relations between the two peoples.
2. Joint declaration by the German and Russian Governments dated September 28 in which, after stating that by their final settlement of the Polish question they have created a sure basis for a permanent [Page 482] peace in Eastern Europe, the two Governments express their view that it would serve the real interests of all peoples, that all [an?] end be put to the state of war between England and France on the one hand and Germany on the other. The two Governments declare that they will exert joint efforts, as the case may be in agreement with other friendly powers, to attain this goal as quickly as practicable. Should these efforts be unsuccessful it would thus be established that England and France are responsible for the continuation of the war, in which case the German and Russian Governments will mutually consult each other concerning the necessary measures.
3. The following exchange of letters between Molotov34 and Ribbentrop under date of September 28:
- (a)
- Letter from Molotov to Ribbentrop in which the former states that the Russian Government desires to develop with all means economic relations and an exchange of goods between Germany and Russia; that an economic program will be formulated by both parties in accordance with which Russia will deliver raw materials to Germany which Germany will compensate by long term industrial deliveries; that the program will be so formulated that the highest volume of exchange of goods attained in the past will again be reached and that both parties will issue instructions and will see to it that the necessary negotiations will be begun and brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible.
- (b)
- Letter from Ribbentrop to Molotov acknowledging receipt of the communication mentioned above and expressing the approval of the Reich Government and its intention to undertake what is necessary in this sense.
- A report of this agreement is contained in telegram No. 649 of the same date from the Ambassador in the Soviet Union, not printed. For text of the Boundary and Friendship Treaty, with one confidential protocol and two secret supplementary protocols between Germany and the Soviet Union, signed in Moscow and dated September 28, 1939, see Nazi-Soviet Relations, 1989–1941, p. 105.↩
- Vyaeheslav Mikhailovich Molotov, People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.↩