761.62/769: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:05 a.m.]
1456. My 1404, October 24, 2 p.m.42 I was informed today that the conversations which the German Ambassador has had with Molotov have been “very favorable” and that the Soviet Government had given every indication of a desire to maintain its present friendly relations with Germany. It is, however, not yet known how far beyond the limits of the present relations the Soviet Union is prepared [Page 573] to go at the present time. It was stated that the specific questions which the Soviet Government desires to discuss with Germany have not yet been outlined and will probably not be presented for another week. The delay was attributed in part to caution on the part of the Soviet Government which, according to my informant, desires to watch future developments particularly in the Balkans before involving itself in discussions of concrete and definite problems. My informant added that the effect of the Italian invasion of Greece43 on the Soviet people could not yet be foreseen and that the Soviet Government had given no intimation thus far of its reaction thereto. My informant added that there was evidence that the Soviet Union was exercising the same caution in respect of an agreement with the Japanese and that while the general attitude in this regard remained favorable he did not believe that the Soviet Government was interested in expediting the matter.
- Not printed.↩
- The invasion of Greece by Italy began on October 28, 1940. For correspondence regarding the Graeco-Italian war, see vol. iii, pp. 524 ff.↩