761.9411/50: Telegram
The Chargé in Japan (Dooman) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 25—1:13 a.m.]
435. 1. I am told on most reliable authority that yesterday the Soviet Government presented to the Japanese Ambassador at Moscow a proposal for the conclusion of a Soviet-Japanese nonaggression pact. The terms of the German-Soviet treaty have so infuriated the Japanese that I cannot conceive of any reply which the Japanese Government will make other than a flat and categorical refusal.
2. The probabilities are that the Cabinet at a meeting which is to be held either this afternoon or tomorrow morning will resign, thus outwardly manifesting the conclusion of the policy of cooperation with Germany and Italy and the beginning of a new “independent policy”. I expect to telegraph further comment later today.
Repeated to Peiping for Chungking and Shanghai.