890.0146/11–1246: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Durbrow) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 12—10:51 a.m.]
4108. Pravda November 11th devotes column and half to 2 Washington despatches concerning Truman’s announcement of publication of American draft agreement for mandate over former Jap mandates, as well as full summary of draft agreement text.
Special Tass correspondent in New York dispatch comments on American plan as follows:
“Attention is given in political and journalistic circles to fact that Government of USA has made its announcement over head of allies on whom responsibility lies for peaceful settlement re Japan. Unusually broad scope of American plans likewise arouses surprise, as they include not only Pacific islands under Jap mandate but also any [Page 680] other Jap island which US desires to possess. At same time various comments are aroused by attempt of USA to make considerable part of Pacific Ocean with vast number of islands its strategic zone, which may be connected with plans for preparing a future war …60
“Exceedingly broad formula re objectives towards which USA intends to extend its mandate is disclosed in certain measure by NY Herald Tribune which wrote November 7 that satisfaction of American claims would turn Pacific Ocean into American lake from San Francisco to Philippines …
“This paper writes that American proposal consists on satisfying army and navy which insist on full preservation of exceptional and secret rights re strengthening of air and sea bases in this region …
“NY Herald Tribune in November 8 editorial writes: ‘If any other great power does not like this draft, it can impose veto on agreement but in this event occupied territories will simply be transferred to our ownership by right of conquest and therein question will end.’”
Pouched to London and Paris.
- Omissions appear here and in the following paragraphs in the source text.↩