in the China war and a few military questions connected with it. I asked Count BKOCEDORFF of his own accord, as a soldier, to asks 'Wouldn't it then he much smarter from the Japanese standpoint to end the prospectless war wit} China by a bearable settlement and to utilize the strength of the Japanese Army and fleet more in the ^ south, where, in the economic field, there are much greater successes to be gained?' Count TEIAUCHI answered as if he regarded this as a consequence of his statements: 'Certainly that would be much better.' While I had the impression that in TERAUCHI1s answers to the statements of the Beichs Foreign Itinister and of the Fuehrer he only consented in a polite way to evade a political conversation, I had, at this opportunity, the impression that the Count had really said what he meant. Berlin, 25 September 1939 "Herewith presented to the State Secretary. /signed/ KNOLL "Copies received: U. St* 3. Dg. Pol. (11) STAHHER reported to Germany on 23 February 1940 that upon his arrival in Tokyo he found OSHIMA, SKIRATORI, TEBAUCEI, IS EI and others in an unchanged friendly attitude and ready for every support« Japanese public opinion was said to be largely pro-German, thus creating favorable prospects for the accomplishment of German political aims.