accordance with the principles announced above with regard to participation in the war, and that efforts should be made ;;o obtain German and Italian cooperation with Japan in improving Japan's domestic and foreign conditions relating to Japan's entry into the war against Britain and the United States. 203 It is submitted that the work of this Four Minister Conference was the culmination of the Japanese plan of expansion by force which began with the so-called Manchurian Incident to establish the so-called New Order in Greater East Asia, including the South Seas. The accused recognized the necessity for German arid Italian assistance of a political, economic and military character within the Sphere in which the Axis Powers were willing to agree that Japan should be predominant. Japan was willing to purchase this assistance by agreeing to obligate itself in a like manner in the European and African Spheres. The accused were determined to establish and administer the so-called New Order-in Greater East Asia, including the South Seas, with Manchuria, China and Japan as its backbone "by all possible means" which meant the use of armed force in the accomplishment of the objectives. From the Japanese standpoint the proposed military alliance was designed as a shield to protect them in the execution of their aggressive designs. It will be clearly demonstrated from Japanese-German negotiations occurring after the conclusion of the Tripartite Pact that their aggressive designs against the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, and other places, 203.Exhibit 54-1, TP 6,320, 6,321.