Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1943, The British Commonwealth, Eastern Europe, the Far East, Volume III

761.94/1440

The Embassy of the Soviet Union to the Department of State ⁴⁷

The Soviet Government considers it necessary to convey to the United States Government the following confidential information. On September 10th, Japanese Ambassador in Moscow, Mr. Sato called on the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs, V. M. Molotov and informed him that the Japanese Government, with the purpose of improving of the relations existing between the USSR and Japan, would like to send to Moscow a high official who would directly represent the Japanese Government. This Extraordinary Envoy of the Japanese Government would come to Moscow together with his suite and then, after an exchange of opinions with the Soviet representatives would continue the trip to Western Europe through Turkey. Answering the questions put by V. M. Molotov for the purpose of clarification of Mr. Sato’s statement, the latter said further that the above-mentioned mission intends to proceed through Turkey to the Balkans, then to Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and France, and to confer with prominent people in those countries. Then on its way to Japan the mission intends to come back to Moscow where it will have again opportunity to make an exchange of opinions with the Soviet representatives. The Ambassador made it clear that the conversations of the Extraordinary Envoy in Moscow would touch upon many questions in which Japan and the USSR are concerned, but at the same time they would also touch upon the general and very important circumstances existing at the present time in which both countries are concerned, and that since this mission would have an opportunity to visit the countries which are at war with the Soviet Union, this would be in the interests not alone of Japan.

On September 13, V. M. Molotov on behalf of the Soviet Government gave an answer to the statement made by Japanese Ambassador Mr. Sato. The Soviet Government stated in its answer that in spite of lack of definiteness of the Japanese Government’s proposal the Soviet Government has no doubt that the sending of the Japanese Extraordinary Envoy to Moscow with the purpose of continuation of his trip through Turkey to Europe and then his returning to Moscow on his way to Japan cannot be considered otherwise than as an attempt of mediation between the USSR, and the countries which are at war with the USSR, with the purpose of preparation of ground for armistice or peace between them. Mr. Molotov told the Japanese Ambassador further that the Soviet Government considers that any possibility of armistice or peace with the Hitlerite Germany and her satellites in Europe is absolutely out of the question, and that in view of this the Soviet Government declines the proposal of the Japanese Government stated by the Ambassador Sato on this September 10th.

The Soviet Government transmitting this information to the United States Government considers it necessary to mention that the above proposal of Mr. Sato is the first attempt of the Japanese Government, since the beginning of the war, to take upon itself a mediatory part between the Soviet Government and the Hitlerite Germany.

September 14, 1943.

47. Handed to the Secretary of State by the Soviet Chargé on September 16.

    In a letter to the Soviet Chargé on September 25, the Secretary asked that Foreign Commissar Molotov be informed of the appreciation of the U.S. Government for his having this information made available to it.