 On 24 August, "Pravda" and "Izvestia" carried news of the pact's public portions, complete with the now-infamous front-page picture of Molotov signing the treaty, with a smiling Stalin looking on.The news was met with utter shock and surprise by government leaders and media worldwide, most of whom were aware only of the British–French–Soviet negotiations, which had taken place for months.The pact was received with shock by Germany's allies, notably Japan; by the Comintern and foreign communist parties and by Jewish communities all around the world.