Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The Far East, Volume IV

740.0011 Pacific War/1260: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Thurston) to the Secretary of State

Kuibyshev, December 17, 1941—noon.
[Received December 18—11:14 a.m.]

2070. Department’s 1284, December 13, 3 p.m.

1. It is not unlikely that Sikorski expressed sentiments similar to those reported from London during his visit to the Soviet Union (as it is probable that from the Polish viewpoint it is preferable that the Soviet war effort against Germany should not be diminished by additional activities in the East), but as he had returned to Moscow prior to the Japanese attack on us he presumably did not address his remarks to Stalin.

2. The British Ambassador called on me the day of the Japanese attack. In discussing the probable attitude of the Soviet Government he expressed the opinion that it might well be that of neutrality. His statements in this respect did not at the time convey to me the impression that he advocated such a policy. The Chinese Ambassador,⁶⁷ however, with whom I carefully explored this subject last evening, stated explicitly that Cripps seemed to favor Soviet abstention from war with Japan. Upon Cripps’ return from Moscow I shall endeavor definitely to ascertain his attitude in this respect.

3. The Chinese Ambassador has informed me that insofar as he is aware Stalin has not replied⁶⁸ to Chiang Kai-shek’s note of December 8⁶⁹ (a copy of which he understands was handed to Ambassador Gauss). He believes however from the general attitude of the Soviet officials with whom he has conversed that the Soviet Government will not be disposed to engage in hostilities with Japan at this time if they can be avoided.

4. With respect to Litvinov’s exposition to the Secretary of the decisions arrived at by his Government I may say that, as the Department is aware, Soviet foreign policy is superlatively realistic. It may be taken for granted therefore that until the Soviet Government can be convinced of the advantages of entering the war against Japan no other considerations (such as the general wisdom of such action or the help that would thereby be rendered us and the British) will affect its decision. In this connection, it has been reported to me by persons having some association with Soviet citizens, and the same opinion was expressed to me last night by a Soviet official who may be presumed to know the present “party line”, that the Soviet Government would be disposed to participate in the War of the Pacific only if Britain establishes a second front with Germany on the continent—the North African campaign being definitely regarded as a minor operation in no way capable of diminishing Germany’s effective strength against the Soviet Union.

Thurston

67. Shao Li-tzu.
68. See telegram of December 12 from the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union to the President of the Chinese Executive Yuan, p. 747.
69. Presumably similar to message to President Roosevelt contained in telegram No. 481, December 8, 6 p.m., from the Ambassador in China, p. 736.