in the Netherlands East Indies would make Japan economically independent of America and would offer to "the expected KONuYE Government" a promising starting point for a settlement of the war with China. 130 This Japanese inquiry regarding military activity in the Netherlands East Indies and this statement relative to Japan1 s colonial wishes in the Netherlands East Indies proved the exis¬tence of a policy directly in conflict with a statement made by the Japanese Foreign Minister to Ambassador Grew on 10 June 1940 in which he categorically asserted that Japan entertained no territorial ambitions with regard to the Netherlands East Indies. 131 Any uncertainty as to Japan's immediate plans was dissipated when Japan refused on 1 July 1940 to enter into a treaty with the United States designed to maintain the status quo in the Pacific and prevent forceful changes. In commenting on the reason why such a treaty should hot be conc3.uded KIDO recorded in his diary that "*t would be inadvisable at this time to have Japan's activities, including those in the Netherlands, restricted." 132 RENEWAL OF NEGOTIATIONS FOR MILITARY ALLIANCE In the meantime, the accused, or their leaders, were active In laying the groundwork for the conclusion of a Tri- Partite Military Alliance without the aid of which they dared not 130.Exhibit 523, TP 6,176 131.Exhibit 101, TP 9,669 132.(a) Exhibit 1249, TP 11,708 (b)Exhibit 1295, TP 11, 711