Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, The British Commonwealth, The Soviet Union, The Near East and Africa, Volume III

711.61/762a: Telegram

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

Washington, October 26, 1940—3 p.m.

699. Section 1. In view of recent developments in Washington, the Department desires that you disregard general instructions contained in part II of telegram 614, October 3, 2 p.m. On the other hand, if you can obtain the opportunity of being received by Molotov, at an early date, or otherwise with some other appropriate official, please develop orally the following views as under instructions from your Government:

As is known to Mr. Molotov there have been recent exchanges of views between the two Governments in the hope that certain difficulties of an administrative or commercial nature which have arisen between them might be eliminated. The fact that these conversations have taken place demonstrates that there is a sincere desire on the part of the American Government to see a spirit of greater cooperativeness. You may add that your Government is particularly gratified at the successes which have thus far been achieved and hopes that by a continued exchange of views in the same spirit the two Governments may be able to extend these successes to broader and more important fields.

The Tripartite Pact⁹ which has been recently announced uniting the aggressor nations emphasizes the common danger from the policies pursued by these nations which faces peace-loving and peace-abiding countries. The United States Government is hopeful that peaceloving nations will continue to resist pressure for commitments incompatible with their own national integrity. You may add that doubtless your Government has suggested this approach at the present moment because of the announcement of this Pact which has the positive feature of clarifying for the benefit of the whole world a situation which has existed for some time; the fact that the aggressor bloc has been forcing nation after nation to succumb to its dominance clearly indicates that the bounds of its aggressiveness are without limit.

Such considerations cannot be ignored by even those great Powers which for the moment find themselves beyond the scope of the immediate activities of these aggressor forces. These great Powers, furthermore, must not be unmindful of the fact that any undertakings limiting freedom of action given by them to the signatories of this Tripartite Pact not only tend to isolate these powers from other free nations but also amount in reality to the granting of a mortgage on their future in favor of those powers which seem bent on world domination through conquest. The Government of the United States welcomes at this time the opportunity afforded by the conversations already initiated of removing the causes for friction and misunderstanding which have arisen between our two Governments, and of thus preparing the way for a closer and more friendly association which it believes will be a valuable factor in preventing a further spread of warfare.

Section 2. Should you have any reason to doubt the advisability of the aforementioned action, or should you desire to make any suggestions in this connection, the Department desires you to telegraph your views.

Hull

9. Signed at Berlin on September 27, 1940, by Germany, Italy, and Japan. For text, see League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. cciv, p. 387, or Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 165.