761.9411/92: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
Chungking, April 15,
1941—noon.
[Received April 15—7:55 a.m.]
[Received April 15—7:55 a.m.]
136. My 135, April 15, 11 a.m.58
- 1.
- The signing on April 13 of the “neutrality pact” and the accompanying “declaration” by the Soviet Union and Japan has without doubt come as a blow to the Chinese although it cannot be said to have come as a complete surprise. With the lone exception of the Communist organ which endeavors to support the action of the Soviet Union, the entire Chungking press this morning violently assails the action of the Soviet Union. It would appear that the Chinese authorities will appraise the value of the Moscow agreement in terms of the future Russian policy toward China and Japan. They will naturally wish to ascertain whether it will mean abandonment of Russian support of China and also whether Japan has received such assurance from Russia as to allow Japan to withdraw troops from Manchuria for use either in China or in the South Seas.
- 2.
- During an informal conversation yesterday the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs59 informed me that the Chinese Government had received no intimation from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics prior to or immediately after the conclusion of the agreement that Russia intended to negotiate such a pact. It may thus be inferred that the Russians failed to consult with the Chinese Government in relation to this question before entering into negotiations with Mr. Matsuoka.
Sent to the Department, repeated to Peiping, Peiping please mail code text to Tokyo.
Johnson