793.94119/709: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 5—12:01 p.m.]
1675. The press today publishes without comment a Tass despatch from Tokyo stating that on December 1 the Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs informed the Soviet Ambassador that article 3 of the agreement concluded between Japan and Wang Ching-wei concerning the struggle against communism was in no way directed against the Soviet Union and was based solely on international considerations and does not affect in any way the desire of the Japanese Government to regulate its relations with the Soviet Union. The despatch continues that on December 4 the Soviet Ambassador on behalf of the Soviet Government made a declaration to the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs to the following effect:
“The Soviet Government takes note of the declaration of the Japanese Government that article 3 of the treaty concluded between Japan and Wang Ching-wei is in no way directed against the Soviet Union and that it will not have any effect on the desire of Japan to regulate its relations with the U. S. S. R.
“For its part the Soviet Government considers it necessary to declare that the policy of the Soviet Union in relation to China remains unchanged.”
Repeated to Tokyo.