761.94/7–2145: Telegram
No. 586
The Japanese Ambassador in the
Soviet Union (
Sato
) to the Japanese Minister of Foreign
Affairs (
Sato
)
1385. Re my telegram No. 1383.1
I immediately requested an interview with Molotov but was told that he was simply not able to accommodate my request and I was asked whether I would convey my message to Lozovsky. Therefore, I met Lozovsky at 5 p.m. on the 13th and conveyed His Majesty’s wishes contained in your telegram No. 893,2 translated into Russian, addressed to Molotov, and accompanied by my confidential note. I requested further that he immediately transmit this message to Molotov after reading it. The above note included the Imperial wish to dispatch Prince Konoye, mentioned in your telegram, and the request for agreement from the Soviet Government concerning the Prince’s visit. Furthermore, in the event of approval, provisions for an airplane and other conveniences were also requested.
[Page 880]Moreover, I mentioned that the special mission on this occasion was absolutely different in nature from those special missions previously proposed to Molotov, as this envoy was being sent in response to His Majesty’s personal wish and we would like to have the matter treated accordingly. I further expressed the desire of the Japanese Government to obtain an early answer on this matter, if only a consent in principle, and if at all possible before Molotov’s departure, so that the above-mentioned special envoy might be able to meet the Soviet authorities soon after their return from Berlin.
In answer to Lozovsky’s question as to which member of the Soviet Government the message was intended for, I said that since it conveyed the Imperial wishes of His Majesty no addressee was designated but that we wished to have it transmitted to Kalinin, Head of the Soviet Government, Stalin, Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars, and Molotov. Lozovsky thereupon stated that he could understand the Japanese Government’s hurry for an answer and would try to expedite an answer in accordance with our desires, but he also expressed doubts as to the possibility of an answer before departure time, for one government group was scheduled to depart that very evening. Accordingly, I replied that in the event that an answer was not possible prior to Molotov’s departure, we would like him to establish communications directly with Berlin by telephone or other means for their answer, as the special envoy and his suite will require preparations and arrangements. Lozovsky answered that he would naturally handle the matter as above requested and promised to turn my note over to Molotov without delay. I hasten to telegraph the foregoing.
- Not printed.↩
- Document No. 582.↩