740.0011 European War 1939/18806
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The Minister of Australia18 called at his request.
He said that there was an intermission in the Soviet situation, about which he was not informed. I stated that Soviet Russia would not give us bases in the Far East to enable us to send materials to her, nor does Russia intend to fight Japan at present. I added that I had stated to the Soviet Ambassador, soon after his arrival here, that I assumed his Government knew that Japan would attack Russia whenever Germany requested her to do so, and the Soviet Ambassador had replied to the effect that they were busily engaged with Germany and did not think it wise to indulge in any act that might bring on war with Japan during the next few months.
- Richard G. Casey.↩