761.93 Manchuria/153: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 4—10:06 a.m.]
516. Embassy’s 508, August 2, 6 p.m., Soviet border clash.
1. The featuring by the press of reports on the Soviet border incident is running a poor second to reports on the advance towards Hankow. Systematic and effective use is being made of Domei reports [Page 466] from each important capital to the effect that dominant opinion at such capital does not expect the incident to develop into war. Particular interest attaches to reports that Moscow is not excited and that the Soviet press appears to be belittling the incident. At the same time Japanese Army releases purporting to be simply factual accounts are currently published and they make it clear that the scale of fighting has been dangerously extensive. One release published today states that the Soviet forces in the vicinity of Changkufeng include 3 battalions of infantry and 1 mechanized brigade with more than 200 tanks. Soviet air raids involving large numbers of planes, over points in Manchuria and Korea, continue to be affirmed.
2. The populace shows no desire for war against the Soviet Union and appears to be calm. However, apprehension is evidenced among officials and other informed Japanese, who feel that, as it is now the Soviet’s turn to move, the decision for war or peace rests with Moscow.
We learn from the Foreign Office that Litvinov is evading the Japanese Ambassador, which would seem to support press despatches from European capitals that the Soviet Government has not as yet made its decision. It was also stated at the Foreign Office that Japan will, whatever the consequences, tolerate no violation of the frontier. Nevertheless, there appears to be moderate optimism that war will not eventuate.
3. As there is available in Tokyo no information from sources other than Japanese, we are in no position to decide whether we wish to modify our views on Soviet-Japanese relations expressed in our despatch 2822 of March 1822 and in other reports. It would appear, however, that the Soviet forces have, by moving into an area the ownership of which has been for some time in controversy, initiated this dangerous situation. Whether the motive was to divert Japanese forces from operations against China, as has been suggested, or some other, the Soviets have apparently precipitated a situation which may become impossible either for the Soviet Union or Japan to control.
Repeated to Peiping for Johnson.
- Not printed.↩