740.0011 European War 1939/12938: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:40 p.m.]
1320. 1. The Japanese Ambassador who called this morning described the present Japanese attitude toward the Soviet-German war as “wait and see” adding that Matsuoka was not only perturbed by but actually angry at the German attack on Russia as it had “disrupted all his plans”. He said that were it not for the fear that the Government would fall and “Matsuoka lose his job” there was sufficient feeling [Page 1004] in Japanese circles to cause Matsuoka to propose Japan’s withdrawal from the Axis. He pointed out that while Japan had considerable forces in Manchukuo they were only sufficient for defensive and not offensive purposes and that in his opinion the only development that could save Matsuoka’s position was the disintegration of the Soviet Union from which Japan could profit without conducting a major war.
[Here follows a report of the views of the Japanese Ambassador, General Tatekawa, on the military campaign of the war between Germany and the Soviet Union.]