Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, Europe, Volume IV

711.94114 Supplies/10–2044: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)

Washington, October 20, 1944.

2488. Reference Department’s 2093, August 31.

1. There follows the text of a Japanese note communicated on October 9 to Swiss Legation, Tokyo, concerning onward movement of relief supplies now on Soviet territory intended for Allied prisoners of war and civilian internees in Japanese custody.

[Here follow texts of the Japanese note of October 9, and the Department’s reply, contained in telegram 6916 of October 18, from Bern, and in telegram 3582 of October 20, to Bern, printed in volume V, pages 1059 and 1062, respectively. The two Governments reached agreement on the principles and procedures for sending a Japanese ship to the port of Nakhodka. The United States Government declared that it would forward, upon completion of this transfer, a proposal for continued operations of this nature to the Japanese Government to which it hoped that the latter would agree.]

3. Department, as will be noted from paragraph 2 above, is at the disadvantage of not having the full text of the Soviet communication of August 25 to the Japanese Embassy, Moscow. Department is hopeful, however, that the portions of the Japanese communication regarding security of the Japanese vessel while in Soviet waters are responsive to the Soviet communication of August 25. If new issues are raised in the Japanese communication it is hoped that the Soviet authorities in direct communication with the Japanese Government will be willing to arrange a mutually satisfactory procedure under which adequate guarantees of safety for the Japanese vessel while in Soviet waters will be given.

4. It is hoped that Department can be furnished full text of Soviet communication to Japanese Government regarding this matter.⁵

5. Please furnish Soviet Government full text of Japanese communication of October 9 (paragraph 1 above) and text of this Government’s reply to Japanese Government (paragraph 2). At same time please approach Soviet Government in the sense of paragraphs 3 and 4 stressing again the urgency of the matter and expressing the hope that in order to bring this projected operation to a successful conclusion Soviet Government will arrange in direct communication with Japanese authorities a mutually satisfactory procedure for safeguarding the Japanese vessel while in Soviet waters. Please note that Japanese Government has stated its willingness to despatch a ship toward end of October. In view of the time required to effect notification required in connection with Allied safe conduct, immediate action by Soviet authorities in regard to safety measures for Japanese ship while in Soviet waters is required.

Hull

5. George F. Kennan, who had become Chargé in the Soviet Union, told the Department in telegram 4038, October 22, 1944, that the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs had received “a direct response from the Japanese Government to its aide-mémoire of August 25” to which it was “now drafting a reply which will repeat guarantees of safety already given for the Japanese vessel within Soviet waters.” A copy of this response was promised for the United States Government. (711.94114 Supplies/10–2244)