."foreign office, went to Home in December 193B where he received the same repiv from Mussolini as that given Ribbentrop.79 The accused SHIRATORI accepted the post of Ambassador to Italy and journeyed to Home in the latter part of December 1938 with the expectation that he would succeed in concluding an Italian- Japanese-German military alliance.80 Early in January 1939 Mussolini communicated to Ribbentrop his decision to unite in the proposed alliance.81 As the result of a division within the Japanese Cabinet as to the extent to which Japan should commit herself in the pro¬posed alliance, 0SHIMA was advised in December 1938 by the Foreign Office that the Ito Commission would be sent to Europe to make known the Government's exact position. 82 0SHIMA AND SHIRATORI ADVOCATE MILITARY ALLIANCE WITHOUT RESERVATIONS OSHIMA and SHIRATORI conferred on matters pertaining to the proposed alliance and advocated an all-out military alliance aimed at the world in accordance with the original proposal of Ribbentrop. They endeavored to impose their convictions upon the Japanese Government and assisted by others of the accused in Japan endeavored to influence and direct Japanese policy. On 7 January 1939 SHIRATORI advised Count Ciano that Prime Minister 79Exhibit 497, TP6,060, 6,06l. 80Exhibit 498, TP6,083. 81See Note 79. 82Exhibit 497• TP6,062.