761.9411/68: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:33 p.m.]
1638. For the Secretary and Under Secretary. My 1577, November 19, 1 p.m.99 The Japanese Ambassador told me this afternoon in the strictest confidence that he has recently seen Molotov and that on inquiring of him as to the Soviet Government’s disposition towards the Japanese proposal of a nonaggression pact, Molotov had replied by pointing out to him that shortly after the Soviet-German nonaggression pact Germany had “made the Soviet Union a present” in the form of half of Poland and that he was curious to know what “present” the Japanese Government proposed to make the Soviet Union in exchange for a nonaggression pact. When the Japanese Ambassador inquired as to what “present” Molotov had in mind, the latter replied that he was thinking of the lower half of Sakhalin and “some islands”, but that as he assumed the Japanese Government would not be prepared to cede the lower half of Sakhalin and as there was no desire on the part of the Soviet Government to offend the Japanese Government, by even making such suggestion, he proposed that instead of a nonaggression pact the two countries enter into what he termed a “pact of neutrality”, the general provisions of which would make no reference to any third country but would merely provide that in the event that either country became involved in war the other would maintain strict neutrality. The Japanese Ambassador told Molotov that he would submit his proposal to Tokyo and he is now awaiting further instruction from his Government.
He said that in reply to Molotov’s reference to the lower half of Sakhalin and “some islands” he had asked Molotov why the Soviet Union which was already huge desired any additional territories, to which Molotov replied, “You have so many islands you could give us a few.” The Ambassador said that he had reiterated to Molotov the position of his Government that it was unwilling to discuss specific matters in controversy until after some form of treaty had been signed and told me that Molotov was still pressing for a discussion of specific matters in controversy first. He expressed doubt to me that the Japanese Government would under any conditions agree to the cessation [cession?] of southern Sakhalin. The Ambassador told me that in revealing the desire of the Soviet Government to receive “a present” in return for an agreement with Japan, Molotov had remarked that “the present international situation was fine for the Soviet Union.”
[Page 677]The Ambassador said that in the course of the conversation he had told Molotov that he must not regard the Japanese-Chinese war as of indefinite duration and that as soon as that war was concluded and in the absence of an agreement with the Soviet Union “we are going to transfer all our armies to Manchuria”, to which Molotov had replied that he hoped that some arrangement would be arrived at before that became necessary.