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Parent | Doc. 6907 - Collaboration Between Japan, Germany and Italy, Volume 1 - Opening Statement |
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Date | |
Language | English |
Collection | Tavenner Papers & IMTFE Official Records |
Box | Box 15 |
Folder | Japan, Germany, Italy Collaboration Vol 1 |
Repository | University of Virginia Law Library |
Doc. No. 6907
position in the west Pacific Ocean. In November 194-0, Ambassador KURUSU had declared that Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese agreements were required as a prerequisite for a Japanese advance through the region south of China* including Siam, without the use of which Singapore could not be successfully attacked. The evidence will show that such an attack was designed to give Japan a free hand in establishing her Greater East Asia policy in China and in the Pacific and Indian Oceans in conformity with the purposes set forth in the Tri-Partite Pact. The capture of Singapore by Japan will also be shown as the fulfillment of Japan's desire to aid Germany in bringing the war against England to a speedy close. It was con¬sidered that a sudden attack by Japan upon Singapore without a declaration of war would constitute a blow that would prevent the United States from effectively interfering.
The German Ambassador to Japan made a report on 31 January 1941 to his government of the result of a two-day research with the attaches of the armed forces, in which it was concluded that the chances of success of an attack by Japan against Singapore were favorable; that it would have to be carried out in steps by occupying Saigon and the Malayan Peninsula, and that if the American Pacific Ocean fleet should attempt to interfere from Hawaii it would easily be detected on the overly long approaches and an¬nihilated .