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

761.94/1274: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, February 16, 1941—4 p.m.
[Received February 17—9:08 a.m.]

239. According to a Domei report of Friday’s session of the Budget Committee published in the Japan Times and Advertiser yesterday, the Foreign Minister in reply to a question stated that Japanese diplomacy was continuing its efforts begun at the conclusion of the tripartite alliance to bring about an adjustment of relations between Japan and the Soviet Union. Matsuoka, while warning of the difficulties and inevitable delays attending upon any negotiations with the Soviet Union, noted nevertheless with satisfaction the temporary settlement of the fishery issue, the appointment of commissions to consider the question of the north Saghalien concessions and the conclusion of a permanent fishery agreement as well as the negotiations for the conclusion of a trade agreement between Japan and the Soviet Union. In discussing the general trend of Soviet-Japanese relations, Matsuoka stated that while it is impossible to forecast the future trend of events, the apparent willingness of the Soviet Government to settle outstanding questions was gratifying and remarked in this connection certain measure of mutual understanding had been reached between the Japanese Ambassador and Molotov¹⁰ and that as a result it would appear that the Soviet authorities were beginning to understand and were less suspicious of “the real intentions of Japan.” He concluded with the statement that the Japanese Government is determined to utilize to the full the opportunity that has at last been presented for adjusting relations with the Soviet Union. In reply to a further question concerning the bearing of Article 5 of the tripartite alliance on the question of relations with the Soviet Union, Matsuoka is quoted as stating that this article exempting from the operation of the pact the relations between the signatories and the Soviet Union was not without concern to the Japanese Government and that should Soviet-Japanese relations between [sic] take a turn for the worse the Japanese Government could be depended upon to take steps to have Article 5 adjusted before such a contingency arose.

On the subject of the Anti-Comintern Pact¹¹ and its connection with Soviet-Japanese relations, Matsuoka stated that the Anti-Comintern Pact retained its validity as an instrument for combating communism but denied that it was demoralizing influence against the Soviet Union or had any direct bearing on the question of adjusting relations with that country.

Mr. Matsuoka’s remarks, closed with the general tenor of Japanese press comment concerning the relations with the Soviet Union, reveal the continuing desire and effort of the Japanese Government to bring about an agreement with the Soviet Union.

Sent to the Department via Shanghai, repeated to Moscow.

Grew

10. Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov, President of the Soviet Council of Commissars (Premier).
11. Between Japan and Germany; signed at Berlin, November 25, 1936, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 153, and subsequently adhered to by other powers.