761.9411/98: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Steinhardt) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 17—12:40 a.m.]
777. Foreign correspondents who were present at the Trans-Siberian railway station the evening Matsuoka left on his return journey to Japan state that it was apparent that most of the members of Matsuoka’s party and of the Japanese Embassy and of the Soviet delegation present to bid Matsuoka farewell (with the exception of Stalin) were somewhat intoxicated and that the behavior on the station platform while awaiting the departure of the train can only be described as frolicsome. There were many backslappings, bear hugs and even kisses exchanged between various persons present and several rather extraordinary remarks were claimed to have been overheard. The most interesting of these is one attributed to Stalin in variations of the following words: “Now that the Soviet Union and Japan have arranged their affairs, Japan will straighten out the East, the Soviet Union and Germany will take care of Europe and later on between them they will take care of the Americans.” That something approximating the foregoing statement actually was said has been confirmed by members of the German Embassy who were also present.
The visit and the signing of the treaty have of course provoked an abundant flow of gossip in Moscow including most recently the circulation [Page 955] of a report to the effect that the real and hidden import of the Soviet-Japanese agreement is that it constitutes the first step toward a full association on the part of the Soviet Union with the tripartite powers in a concerted drive to impose their will on Europe and Asia.
Repeated to Tokyo.