761.94/1153: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 9—6:45 a.m.]
585. Our 571, November 4, 3 p.m.93 Following the arrival in Tokyo yesterday of Smetanin, the new Soviet Ambassador, the press today stated that assurances of increasing friendship between the Soviet Union and Japan were given by Captain Kovalev, Soviet Naval Attaché, en route to Vladivostok on home leave. Kovalev is reported by the press as stating:
“I am sure that the future will bring about a progressive increase in friendship between Japan and the Soviet Union. The peoples of Japan and the Soviet Union should use care to see that they are not influenced by propaganda reports spread by Britain and the United States in an attempt to cause estrangement between them.
So far as China is concerned there is nothing that should cause concern about the relations between Japan and the Soviet Union. I have no doubt that Ambassador Smetanin will take an early opportunity to communicate frankly the wishes of the Soviet Union to the Japanese authorities. I think that negotiations will be held for a general adjustment of Soviet-Japanese relations parallel with the Moscow and Chita talks.
I understand that Ambassador Smetanin will hold a meeting soon with the Soviet Ambassador to China but I am not at liberty to discuss the venue of the meeting.”
Repeated to Moscow and Peiping; Peiping please repeat to Chungking.
- Not printed.↩