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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
Ambassadors OSHIMA and SHIRAIORI desired a military alliance without reservations. To this the Army in Japan was prepared to agree but the Navy was not entirely in favor of such an alliance. After holding numberous meetings, the HIRANUMA Cabinet reached a compromise which contemplated that there should be reserved to each of the signatories the right to determine whether an emergency had occurred which required the treaty to be put into operation. For the purpose of fully acquainting the Japanese Ambassadors OSHIMA and SHIRATORI with this compromise proposal and for the purpose of advising them as to the limits beyond which they should not go, the ITO Commission was sent to Berlin and Rome.
Ambassadors OSHIMA and SHIRATORI refused to follow the directions delivered by the ITO Commission. SHIRATORI previously had secretly advised Italy not to accept the anticipated compromise proposal. The Ambassadors refused | to communicate with Germany and Italy through official channels and wired the Japanese Foreign Office to accept the pact of alliance without reservation, asserting that unless this was done they would resign, which action they averred would bring about the fall of the Cabinet. As a result of this action, the Foreign Ministry by wire to Ambassador OSHIMA modified its position to a mere declaration that Japan did not want to give more than non-military aid