10 Dec.
45
Japan takes the Philippines without
America being able to do anything about it.
"3) In view of the coming New World Order it seems to be in the
interest of Japan also to secure for herself, even during the war, the
position she wants to hold in the Far East at the time of a peace
treaty. Ambassador Oshima agreed entirely with this line of thought
and said that he would do everything to carry through this policy."
I should like to note at this point the subtlety of Ribbentrop's
argument. First he told the Japanese Ambassador that Germany had already
practically won the war by herself. Nevertheless he suggested that the
war could be successfully terminated more quickly with Japan's aid and
that the moment was propitious for Japan's entry. Then referring to the
spoils of the conquest, he indicated that Japan would be best advised to
pick up by herself during the war the positions she wanted, implying
that she would have to earn her share of the booty, which is reminiscent
of that statement I read to you earlier from the Führer that "those
who wished to be in on the meal must take a part in the cooking."
Continuing Ribbentrop's argument to show the real nature of the
German-Japanese alliance, I shall now read the top two paragraphs on
Page 5 of the English translation of 1834-PS:
"The Reich Foreign Minister continued
by saying that it was Japan's friendship which had enabled Germany to
arm after the Anti-Comintern Pact was concluded. On the other hand,
Japan had been able to penetrate deeply into the English sphere of
influence in China. Germany's victory on the continent has brought
now, after the conclusion of the Three Power Pact, great advantages
for Japan. France, as a power, was eliminated in the Far East
(Indo-China). England, too, was considerably weakened; Japan had been
able to close in steadily on Singapore. Thus, Germany had already
contributed enormously to the shaping of the future fate of the two
nations. Due to our geographical situation, we should have to carry
the main burden of the final battle in the future, too. If an unwanted
conflict with Russia should arise, we should have to carry the main
burden also in this case. If Germany should ever weaken, Japan would
find herself confronted by a world coalition within a short time. We
would all be in the same boat. The fate of both nations would be
determined for centuries to come. The same was true for Italy. The
interests of the three countries would never intersect. A defeat of
Germany would also mean the end of the Japanese imperialistic idea.