aims of the United States is to make the Far East her own, from an economic standpoint. I have felt from the beginning that if it was the intention of the United States to separate Japan from the Axis first and then intervene in Europe, the United States was doomed to fail because of Japan's loyal and sincere nature. "'As Your Excellency and Your Excellency's predecessor know, I wholeheartedly endorse Japan's policy of creating a New Order in East Asia. This has been true in the past, true now and will be so in the future. I am one who is firmly convinced that Japan has every right to be the leader of the Great East Asia area.' "I continued by relating to him the contents of your message referred to in the heading, (with regard to paragraph 3 of that message, I said that I had been advised that some arrangements were being made between our Ambassador in Berlin and Bibbentrop). "With regard to paragraph 2, Mussolini said that should war break out, Italy would give every military aid she had at her disposal, i.e., that she would make every effort to keep the British Navy checked in the Mediterranean. "Mussolini: 'Recently, the formation of an Italian- German air force bloc was discussed so as to afford closer cooperation between the two to apply further pressure on the British in the 'Mediterranean. The negotiations on this proposal have progressed to a point where it may be signed any day now.'