Page 145

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
specific formulation, and left open negotiations for which there were supposed to be favorable prospects, *"* received according to QSPIMA's telegram / yesterday. "3.) Explanations concerning 'Sincerity of my Country1 were indicated as a particularly important personal word of honor of the Prime Minister, after I had referred to the wording which could be easily mis- , i sunder stood. The whole statement had been delivered to the Etaperor by the Foreign Minister, which fact also follows from the indications made in the press. In case an agreement is not reached, the army expects a resignation of the cabinet, which would be quite undesirable at the present time for foreign and domestic reasons. "Declarations from navy circles not yet obtainable. Main opposition of the Navy comes evidently from Navy Vice Minister YAMAMOTO. "From the Foreign Ministry a senior official, who stands especially close to Ambassador SHIRATORI, let me Snow personally that in the entire government a deep cleft between friends and enemies of the alliance had formed. The situation is very serious and complicated. By his personal*initiative, the Prime Minister has achieved a declaration of compromise which accepts the principle of an unlimited alliance, limiting this, however, by two significant reservations• This attitude of Japan must, it is true, astonish the Axis Powers, who are /accustomed to unequivocal decisions, but it arises necessarily