761.94/1358: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:45 p.m.]
1696. For the President, the Secretary and Under Secretary. In an endeavor to ascertain whether conversations or negotiations of moment are at present being carried on between the Soviet and Japanese Governments, I called on the Japanese Ambassador today.
He told me that he has not seen Molotov since August 15th and that the only subjects he has under discussion with the Soviet authorities are a Japanese protest concerning floating mines from Vladivostok (one of which blew up a Japanese fishing vessel with the loss of four Japanese lives, while seven others have been picked up in Japanese fishing waters); a Soviet protest at the continued increase of Japanese forces in Manchuria; and other “minor” subjects.
In so far as concerns the Japanese protest at the movement of American oil to Vladivostok,46 the Ambassador described it as “formal” as he said he did not see how anything more could be done about the matter by his Government in view of the clear right of the Soviet and American Governments to carry on trade. He said he doubted that the protest would be followed by any further action by the Japanese Government, “particularly as four tankers have already arrived at Vladivostok.”
With respect to Japanese policy in general, the Ambassador expressed the opinion that his Government would consolidate its position in Indochina but said that he does not anticipate any move towards Thailand in the near future. Tatekawa also stated that although the Soviet Ambassador in Tokyo was carrying on discussions with the Japanese Foreign Office he did not believe that the subjects under consideration were “political” or “important”.
Repeated to Tokyo.