761.94/1141
The Chinese Embassy to the Department of State 31
Reliable Chinese source from Moscow reports that responsible Soviet authorities have stated that the rumor of the negotiation of a non-aggression pact between Soviet Russia and Japan is absolutely groundless; that it has been the determined national policy of Soviet Russia to give China sympathetic assistance in her resistance to Japan; and that such policy will in no way be affected by the changing situation in Europe.
The Soviet authorities have further declared that:
- (1)
- The Soviet Government, faithful to its traditional policy and to the recent decision of the Supreme Council to maintain strict neutrality toward the war in Europe, will certainly not participate in the European conflict; and
- (2)
- The Soviet Government will always be on the alert and be ready to deal effective blows to the Japanese. The rumor of the negotiation of a non-aggression pact between Soviet Russia and Japan must have been fabricated with malicious motive.
[
Washington
,] September 14, 1939.
- Transmitted by the Adviser on Political Relations to the Secretary of State on September 15 with comment as follows: “I see no reason for doubting that ‘responsible Soviet authorities’ have made the statements attributed to them. However, what they might say or do in one connection need in no way be consistent with what they might say or do in another connection.”↩