740.0011 European War 1939/17882: Telegram
The Secretary of Embassy in the Soviet Union (Thompson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:47 p.m.]
17. [From Thurston.65] In the course of a conversation last evening General McFarlane66 informed me that he has had several conversations [Page 1030] with high Soviet authorities regarding the question of Soviet participation in the war against Japan and said that he had expressed to them the purely personal opinion that Soviet participation would be highly desirable from the Anglo-American viewpoint-He stated however that he recognized that the Soviet Union is not now in a position to engage in hostilities in the Far East and will not be until next spring. At the same time it is probable that owing to its preoccupation with the war in China and its new activities in the south as well as because of unfavorable winter weather conditions Japan is not in a position at present to attack Russia. The General added it must be presumed that the Japanese view the situation in somewhat the same manner and will take no action at present. As they probably also recognize the impossibility of maintaining a situation wherein two of the major powers on either side of the present world conflict are not themselves engaged in war they undoubtedly plan in due time to strike at the Soviet Union without warning. He has expressed the opinion to the Soviet authorities therefore that they should prepare themselves, endeavor to gauge the Japanese plan as accurately as possible and strike first.
[Here follow opinions as to German military plans.] Thurston.