893.01/851: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Thurston) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:10 p.m.]
1689. The Soviet press has up to the present refrained from any editorial comment concerning the Wang Ching-wei “government” or the declaration made by the Soviet Government through its Ambassador to Japan concerning the Soviet attitude in relation thereto, reported in the Embassy’s 1675, December 5, 5 p.m. A Tass despatch from Berlin published this morning cites the statement of a member of the German Foreign Office at a press conference to the effect that the German Government continues to recognize the Chiang Kai-Shek [Page 464] government in the same manner as Japan continues to maintain relations with the refugee Government of Holland.
The declaration of the Soviet Government that its relation to China remains unchanged should, it is believed, be regarded solely in its relation to the Wang Ching-wei “government” and not as an indication of future Soviet attitude towards China or as indicative of Soviet intentions in regard to a possible agreement with Japan.