10 Dec.
45
road to aggressive war. The notes of this conference,
which were also found in the German Foreign Office archives, are
contained in our Document 1882-PS, which I now offer as Exhibit USA-153.
I shall read a few brief extracts from these notes, starting with the
third paragraph on Page 1 of the English translation:
"In answer to a remark by Matsuoka
that Japan was now awakened and, according to the Japanese
temperament, would take action quickly after the previous lengthy
deliberation, the Reich Foreign Minister replied that it was
necessary, of course, to accept a risk in this connection just as the
Führer had done successfully with the occupation of the
Rhineland, with the proclamation of sovereignty of armament and with
the resignation from the League of Nations."
I now skip several pages of the German text and continue on with the
English translation.
"The Reich Foreign Minister replied
that the new German Reich would actually be built up on the basis of
the ancient traditions of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation,
which in its time was the only dominant power on the European
continent.
"In conclusion, the Reich Foreign Minister once again summarized
the points he wanted Matsuoka to take back to Japan with him from his
trips:
"1) Germany had already won the war. With the end of this year,
the world would realize this. Even England would have to concede it,
if she had not collapsed before then, and America would also have to
resign herself to this fact.
"2) There were no conflicting interests between Japan and
Germany. The future of both countries could be regulated for the long
run on the basis that Japan should predominate in the Far East, Italy
and Germany in Europe and Africa.
"3) Whatever might happen, Germany would win the war. But it
would hasten victory if Japan would enter the war. Such an entry into
the war was undoubtedly more in the interest of Japan than in that of
Germany, for it offered a unique opportunity, which would hardly ever
return, for the fulfillment of the national objectives of Japan —
a chance which would make it possible for her to play a really leading
role in East Asia."
Here
again, in the portion just quoted, we see Ribbentrop pursuing the same
track I have previously noted. Germany has already won the war for all
practical purposes. Japan's entry will hasten the inevitable end. But
Japan had better get the positions she wants during the war.