above, could not be offered to Russia without landing us in difficulties with China who would certainly be supported by the United States. Probably the furthest we could go would be to say that at the conference table we would not oppose Russia's claims to Southern Sakhalin and the Kuriles. Unless, however, we are already in occupation of these territories, Russia will calculate that, as Britain and America must in their own interests defeat Japan, she can afford to wait because her geographical position will enable her to reap the benefit, even if she postpones entry into the war until the last moment.