Why did the Soviets and Japanese not sign a Neutrality Pact for almost two years after Nomonhan?

Why did Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact not get signed till April 1941?

  • Soviet foot-dragging and lack of motivation for a pact

    Votes: 2 40.0%
  • Japanese foot-dragging and lack of motivation for pact

    Votes: 3 60.0%

  • Total voters
    5

raharris1973

Gone Fishin'
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Khalkhin_Gol

The battle of Khalkhin Gol/Nomonhan ended with an armistice by 15 September 1939.

After that the Japanese became far more circumspect and dropped aggressive probing of the USSR that had characterized earlier points in the 1930s.

Eventually, the two states signed a Neutrality Pact in April 1941, that lasted until the Soviets broke the pact in August 1945. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet–Japanese_Neutrality_Pact

Since their border clashes stopped, and neither were planning to attack the other, why did it take so long (20 months, almost 2 years) for them to reach a Neutrality Pact?

Which sides' intransigence was more to blame?
 
I would imagine the lateness of the pact would be due to the Strike South doctrine being adopted fairly late itself. Until then the Japanese military was undecided about whether they wanted to attack the Allies or have another go at the Soviets.
 

raharris1973

Gone Fishin'
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I would imagine the lateness of the pact would be due to the Strike South doctrine being adopted fairly late itself. Until then the Japanese military was undecided about whether they wanted to attack the Allies or have another go at the Soviets.

They really still wanted to have a go at the Soviets unilaterally, when the Germans were at peace and in a non-aggression pact with the Soviets? Seems bizarre they'd think they'd have prospects.
 
They really still wanted to have a go at the Soviets unilaterally, when the Germans were at peace and in a non-aggression pact with the Soviets? Seems bizarre they'd think they'd have prospects.
Well, you're dealing with an underresourced island country that decided to take on the world's biggest nations by population, landmass, and industrial output within the space of four years. Part of that is, of course, due to the fact that there was little rational command structure in the Japanese military other than a groupthink-prone loyalty to the nation. Everyone was looking out for his own perceived interests and backing it up with fantasies of decisive battle, spirit over substance, and "muh bushido."
 
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