The following is a translation of a Top Secret encrypted telegram dated 21 August 1941 from Tokyo. The Soviet agent filing the report states that the countries are quite possibly on the precipice of the most crucial moment in Japanese-Soviet relations: In the event that the US, as part of the lend-lease program, sends ships with weapons and oil to Vladivostok, the Japanese would sink them. The source of the information was redacted during the declassification process, as was the pseudonym of the Soviet agent who filed the cable itself.
TOP SECRET
Removal of copies prohibited
CIPHER TELEGRAM No. 6073
From TOKYO
Received 22 August 1941 at 11:30 Deciphered 23 August 1941 at 21:00
TO VIKTOR
Transmitting a summary of information from “ ”.
1. The general stance regarding a war against the USSR is not yet established. Military preparations and preparations for the air defense of Tokyo and other cities is in full swing.
The former representative of the organization in Moscow, Kira Matsaru [sic; handwritten], upon his return told “ ” that he gave a report in the Moscow ministry on the situation in the USSR, that in the circles of this organization there is still no established line drawn up in regards to the USSR. He also reported that the most crucial moment in Japanese-Soviet relations will come if and when the US sends ships with weapons and oil to Vladivostok. Japan will see to it that several of these ships will sink “through unknown means,” thereby preventing the unloading of the American military cargo in Vladivostok.
2. In recent days, members of the gendarmerie are more and more frequently paying visits to the organization’s employees. We know from this that all of the organization’s employees are under close surveillance. The gendarmes have been ordered to carry out the surveillance with all due caution in order to not arouse suspicion. One of the gendarmes stated that for now, no specific measures are to be taken with the organization’s employees, but at the right time, everything will be done at once.
No. 115 21 August 1941
Translation © 2025 by Michael Estes and TranslatingHistory.org
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