-3- #2070, December 17, noon from (Moscow) Kuibyshev.
 
the help that would thereby be rendered us and the British) will affect its decision. In this
connection, it has been reported to me by persons having some association with Soviet citizens,
and the same opinion was expressed to me last night by a Soviet official who may be presumed to
know the present "party line" that the Soviet Governmnt would be disposed to participate in the
War of the Pacific only if Britain establishes a second front with Germany on the continent - the
North African campaign being definitely regarded as a minor operation in no way capable of
diminishing Germany's effective strength against the Soviet Union.
 
                                                  THURSTON
 
 
 
 
RR