740.0011 European War 1939/12546: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
Tokyo, June 26,
1941—8 p.m.
[Received June 27—11:42 a.m.]
[Received June 27—11:42 a.m.]
886. Embassy’s 868, June 23, 6 p.m.4
- 1.
- The Soviet Military Attaché this morning told a member of the staff that in reply to the Soviet Ambassador’s inquiry on June 24, in regard to Japan’s attitude in the Soviet-German war, Matsuoka had stated that the policy of his Government had not yet been formulated and that Japan’s attitude would be in large measure influenced by an examination of the responsibility for the outbreak of war. Matsuoka went on to say that Japan’s fundamental policy was association with the Axis and that the neutrality treaty with the Soviet Union was of secondary importance and that therefore it would be necessary for the Japanese Government to consider whether under the circumstances relations with the Soviet Union could be brought into conformity with Japan’s fundamental policy.
- 2.
- An unusually well-informed Japanese remarked today to us that Japan’s policy of cooperation with the Axis powers had been predicated on continued close association between Germany and Soviet Russia and that the breaking out of war between these two countries had destroyed the fundamental basis of Japan’s pro-Axis policy. This statement, which I believe to be substantially true, will serve to put in true perspective the observations above reported of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Soviet Ambassador.
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Moscow.
Grew
- Not printed; it reported a Soviet request that Japan define its attitude toward the Soviet-German war (740.0011 European War 1939/12331).↩