Kaganovich, Molotov.

There is no need to censure Troyanovsky for his conversation with the Japanese, since we ourselves charged him with conducting a probe on the basis of known concessions. Regarding compensation for the Chinese Eastern Railway with fish, you are right -- we gave him no such instructions, and he is improvising on his own. In everything else I agree with you.

Stalin.

Source: Stalin i Kaganovich. Perepiska. 1931-1936 gg. [Stalin and Kaganovich. Correspondence. 1931-1936], p. 193.

RGASPI, f. 558, op. 11, d. 77, l. 95.

NOTE

Reply to Kaganovich and Molotov's letter of June 25, 1932:

"To Comrade Stalin. Troyanovsky is conducting negotiations on all aspects of our relations with Japan with Fujiwara, a big businessman connected with the military. The planned negotiations with Yamamoto and Okura did not take place.

Fujiwara, as a non-responsible person, has evidently been assigned to probe us on all questions. These negotiations have gone far and place us in an unequal position, for on our side a plenipotentiary ambassador is speaking.

The main theme of the conversations is the Chinese Eastern Railway. Troyanovsky, contrary to the CC directives, continues to speak with the Japanese about the possibility of compensation to us for the Chinese Eastern Railway by renunciation of Japanese fishing rights...

We consider it necessary decisively to condemn Troyanovsky's conduct and to propose to him that he cease all conversations about the possibility of compensation for the Chinese Eastern Railway by the Japanese renouncing fish; we also consider it necessary that Troyanovsky, as his personal opinion, tell Fujiwara that the negotiations with him have clarified much, have outlined various possibilities for resolving the question of the Chinese Eastern Railway, but that they must be given a more effective character and for this they must be conducted by persons vested with the proper powers; therefore he (Troyanovsky) proposes that the Japanese government officially authorize someone to conduct negotiations, and that on his part he considers that it would be best if that person were Fujiwara himself..."

On June 28 the Politburo sent Troyanovsky the following telegram: "State to Fujiwara as your personal opinion that the negotiations with him have clarified much and have outlined various possibilities for resolving the question of the Chinese Eastern Railway, but that they must be given a more effective character and for this they must be conducted by people vested with the proper powers... We draw your attention to the fact that you continue to insist on your mistake about the possibility of compensation for the Chinese Eastern Railway by fish, contrary to the instruction communicated to you. We propose that henceforth you refrain from these conversations about compensation by fish."