Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, General, Volume I

761.94/1222: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, October 9, 1940—5 p.m.
[Received 6:03 p.m.]

1320. The reproduction in the Soviet press today of the remarks of the Japanese Foreign Minister concerning the importance of improving relations with the Soviet Union, with the elimination of his reference in the same speech according to radio reports to Japanese opposition to the spread of communism in China, Korea and Manchukuo as well as the acceptance by Molotov and Mikoyan⁸⁰ of an invitation from the retiring Japanese Ambassador, is of special interest at this time and tends to confirm the opinion expressed in my 1251 of September 30, 1 p.m. that the Soviet Union is still disposed to consider favorably an improvement in its relations with Japan.

Steinhardt

80. A. I. Mikoyan, Soviet Commissar for Foreign Trade.