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

761.94/1349: Telegram

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

Tokyo, July 24, 1941—1 a.m.
[Received July 23—6 p.m.]

1068. Colleague who enjoys close relations with a former Prime Minister was today [yesterday?] told by the latter that the Japanese Government is awaiting an approach by the Soviet Government for the purpose of reaching a general agreement. The Ambassador believes, but is not certain, that such an expected approach will arise from conversations already held between Molotov and the Japanese Ambassador in Moscow. According to informant, the Japanese Government will be disposed to conclude such an agreement on the following four conditions:

(1) Demilitarization of Vladivostok.

(2) Mutual withdrawal of troops to a given distance from the Manchurian-Siberian frontier.

(3) An undertaking by Soviet Russia that no base on any part of Soviet territory will be ceded to any third power (meaning the United States or Great Britain).

(4) Implementation of article 3 of the Karakhan-Yoshizawa agreement of 1925³⁹ providing that Japan should be given priority in the importation of raw materials from Siberia.

It was not made clear what Soviet Russia would gain by such an agreement except a further guarantee of neutrality beyond the neutrality treaty between the two powers.

Not repeated to Moscow.

Grew

39. Treaty signed at Peking, January 20, 1925, by the Soviet Ambassador in China and the Japanese Minister in China; League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. xxxiv, p. 31.