740.0011 European War 1939/11970:
Telegram
The Secretary of State to the
Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
Washington, June 21,
1941—2 p.m.
347. For your strictly confidential information, the Department has furnished
the Embassy in London, in connection with the current reports of a possible
Anglo-Russian rapprochement in the face of
Russo-German tension, the following outline of this Government’s present
policy toward the Soviet Union:
- “1. To make no approaches to the Soviet Government;
- 2. To treat any approaches which the Soviet Government may
make toward us with reserve until such time as the Soviet
Government may satisfy us that it is not engaging merely in
maneuvers for the purpose of obtaining unilaterally concessions
and advantages for itself;
- 3. To reject any Soviet suggestions that we make concessions
for the sake ‘of improving the atmosphere of American-Soviet
relations’ and to exact a strict quid pro
quo for anything which we are willing to give the
Soviet Union;
- 4. To make no sacrifices in principle in order to improve
relations;
- 5. In general, to give the Soviet Government to understand
that we consider an improvement in relations to be just as
important to the Soviet Union as to the United States, if not
more important to the Soviet Union;
- 6. To base our day-to-day relations so far as practicable on
the principle of reciprocity.”
