Page 111

Parent Collaboration Between Japan, Germany and Italy Volume III
Date 23 February 1940
Language English
Collection Tavenner Papers & IMTFE Official Records
Box Box 15
Folder Japan, Germany, Italy Collaboration Vol 3
Repository University of Virginia Law Library
I received a communication to the effect that the most pressing problem was on the matter of naming . Russia as the most important concern or subject and the other nations as secondary in importance. In this regard the Foreign Office expressed concern that arguments might occur with Germany and they wished to clarify this point fully before proceeding any further, so that they stated they would send a man from the Foreign Office, ITO, Jusshi, who had the rank of a Minister, one man from the General Staff, lit. Col. TATSUMI, and one man from the Navy General Staff, Captain ABE (he is in Sweden now as a Vice Admiral). I was instructed to talk with them. These men arrived in Berlin in the beginning of February 1939* To go back a bit, although this does not concern Japan particularly, I know that around September 1938, after having received the unofficial O.K. from Japan, Germany approached Italy to join in the pact. Italy1 s answer was that while she liked the idea she did not know whether the time was ripe and requested time to think it over. "Q. Who was the Ambassador to Italy from Japan at that time? "A. There was only a charge d'affaires at that time. "Q. Continue, "A. Germany received no answer from Italy on this proposal