761.9315 Manchuria/183
The Japanese Embassy to the Department of State
The Japanese Embassy wishes to make the following statement concerning the Soviet-Japanese agreement for the cessation of hostilities in the Nomonhan area along the Outer Mongolia-Manchoukuo frontier, which was announced on September 16:
With regard to the present war in Europe, the Japanese Government has already enunciated its policy, which is to avoid involvement in that conflict and to concentrate its efforts on the settlement of the China Affair.
Japan’s agreement to the cessation of hostilities and to the negotiations for delimitation of the Outer Mongolia-Manchoukuo frontier was solely prompted by the above basic policy of the Japanese Government.
It is grossly misleading to attach any deeper significance to this agreement for cessation of local fighting. There is no reason to regard it as preliminary to a non-aggression pact or to any move towards a close association of Soviet Russia and Japan. It is further to be stated that there is no foundation whatsoever for the rumor that the agreement was consummated by the good offices of Germany.