761.62/825a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
522. The apparent tendency of Soviet officials to minimize the significance and scope of German-Soviet cooperation, and of German officials to stress the importance of such cooperation, as well as the wishful thinking and talking of representatives of other governments, renders it difficult for the Department to appraise the various reports which it had been receiving with regard to the Molotov visit.
[Page 678]Such information as has come to the Department, however, causes it to believe that Far Eastern matters were touched upon during the discussion. Molotov apparently took the position that in return for important concessions, some of a territorial nature, on the part of Japan, the Soviet Union might be disposed to conclude with Japan a pact of a non-aggression character. The Department has no information which would cause it to believe, however, that Molotov expressed any willingness on the part of the Soviet Government to cease lending its support in the form of supplies to China. Available information would seem to indicate that the Soviet Government contemplates continuing and even increasing its aid to China. Apparently the Russians are asking so much from Japan and are offering so little that it does not seem likely that a Soviet-Japanese pact of a non-aggression character will be concluded in the near future unless unexpectedly the Russians reduce their demands or developments cause the Japanese to decide that they must have a pact with Russia regardless of the cost to them.
Basing its impressions on available information, the Department believes that it would be erroneous to regard the Molotov visit as a failure. It understands that neither the Germans nor the Russians had expected to conclude any definite political or economic agreements while Molotov was in Berlin. Apparently during the course of the visit real progress was made in eliminating certain frictions and misunderstandings which had recently arisen between Germany and the Soviet Union; in ascertaining, and thus facilitating future negotiations with respect to such conflicts as exist in political or territorial aspirations; and in increasing to an extent at least mutual confidence. It seems likely that the visit represents the beginning of a period of somewhat closer cooperation between Germany and the Soviet Union. Following the conversations, German diplomacy has apparently become more active in its endeavors to influence China to come to terms with Japan.
It is significant to note that almost simultaneously with the visit, the Soviet Government has begun to assume a more reasonable and even a somewhat cordial attitude in the discussion of various matters at issue between the American and Soviet Governments.