[Secret]
From: Tokyo (Foreign Minister)
To: Washington
July 31, 1941
Purple (CA) K9
#433 (Part 1 of 4) (Message to Berlin #708)
From
time to time you have been sending us your various opinions about what we ought
to do to help Germany who desires our assistance now that she is at war with
Russia. After a conference with the military, at the risk of a certain amount
of repetition which may cause you some ennui, I am wiring you the Imperial
Government's policy and views. Hereafter, will you please act accordingly.
1.
In a cabinet meeting during the forenoon of July 2, the broad outlines of our
decision concerning our future policy were drawn. You were informed of it by
Circular #1390 [a]. Ever since then the Government has been and is devoting
every effort to bring about the materialization of that policy.
2.
The China incident has already extended over a period of four years, and the
Imperial Government's general trend, particularly its military trend, has
hitherto been to expend the greater part of it energies in an endeavor to bring
a conclusion to the incident, and now a new situation faces us from the north
and from the south. In order to meet it, there is more reason than ever before
for us to arm ourselves to the teeth for all-out war.
[a] Not available.
Army 20461 Trans. 8/4/41 (NR)
[Secret]
From: Tokyo (Foreign Minister)
To: Washington
July 31, 1941
Purple (CA)
#433 (Part 2 of 4) (Message to Berlin #708)
It
seems that Germany also understands this position of ours fairly well. The
German embassy people here in Tokyo are already quite aware of it. And yet I
fear that their homeland is not yet as well informed as they are on our
position.
3.
Commercial and economic relations between Japan and third countries, led by
England and the United States, are gradually becoming so horribly strained that
we cannot endure it much longer. Consequently, our Empire, to save its very
life, must take measures to secure the raw materials of the South Seas. Our
Empire must immediately take steps to break asunder this ever-strengthening
chain of encirclement which is being woven under the guidance and with the
participation of England and the United States, acting like a cunning dragon
seemingly asleep. That is why we decided to obtain military bases in French
Indo-China and to have our troops occupy that territory.
That
step in itself, I dare say, gave England and the United States, not to mention
Russia, quite a set-back in the Pacific that ought to help Germany, and now
Japanese-American relations are more rapidly than ever treading the evil road.
This shows what a blow it has been to the United States.
Army 20462 Trans. 8/4/41 (NR)
[Secret]
From: Tokyo (Foreign Minister)
To: Washington
July 31, 1941
Purple (CA)
#433 (Part 3 of 4) (Message to Berlin #708)
Needless
to say, the Russo-German war has given us an excellent opportunity to settle
the northern question, and it is a fact that we are proceeding with our
preparations to take advantage of this occasion. Not only will we have to
prepare, however, but we must choose well our chance. In view of the real situation
facing our Empire, this should be easily understood. If the Russo-German war
proceeds too swiftly, our Empire would inevitably not have time to take any
effective symmetrical action.
5.
I know that the Germans are somewhat dissatisfied over our negotiations with
the United States, but we wished at any cost to prevent the United States from
getting into the war, and we wished to settle the Chinese incident. We were
working toward those objectives. Let him who will gainsay the fact that as a
result we have indelibly impressed upon the United States the profoundness of
the determination of the Empire of Japan and restrained her from plunging into
the conflict against Germany.
It
should be understood that we started these talks at a time which seemed
opportune to us, and on the assumption that there was complete trust between
Japan and Germany. For that matter, did not
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Germany
start a war with Russia because of her own military expediency when it was
least desirable on our part? Now we have not only to settle the Chinese
incident but have to meet a new challenge in the north as well as in the south,
and this is quite inconvenient.
Army 20463 Trans. 814/41 (NR)
[Secret]
From: Tokyo (Foreign Minister)
To: Washington
July 31, 1941
Purple (CA)
#433 (Part 4 of 4) (Message to Berlin #708)
We
are expending our best efforts to cooperate with Germany. She knows it and
ought to understand our actions.
6.
Well, the formula for cooperation between Tokyo and Berlin, in order to realize
the fundamental spirit of the Tripartite Pact, should be for each country to
have a certain flexibility in its conduct. What I mean to say is that each
should understand that real cooperation does not necessarily mean complete
symmetry of action. In other words, we should trust each other and while
striving tower one general objective, each use our own discretion within the
bound of good judgment.
Thus,
all measures which our Empire shall take will be based upon a determination to
bring about the success of the objectives of the Tripartite Pact. That this is
a fact is proven by the promulgation of an Imperial rescript. We are ever
working toward the realization of those objectives, and now during this dire
emergency is certainly no time to engage in any light unpremeditated or
over-speedy action.
Please
send to Rome. Have sent to Washington.
Army 20464 Trans. Trans. 8/4/41 (NR)
(EXHIBITS OF JOINT COMMITTEE , EXHIBIT NO. 1 INTERCEPTED DIPLOMATIC MESSAGES SENT BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN JULY l AND DECEMBER 8, 1941)