10 Dec.
45
on 5 March 1941, the Nazi policy was stated in
Subparagraph (3) (a) as "forcing England to the ground quickly and
thereby keeping the United States out of the war."
Nevertheless, the Nazi conspirators clearly contemplated, within the
framework of that policy, the possibility of the United States' entry
into the Far Eastern conflict which the Nazis were then instigating.
This could result from an attack by Japan on possessions of the United
States practically simultaneously with the assault on the British
Empire, as actually happened. Other possibilities of involvement of the
United States were also discussed. This Basic Order Number 24 stated —
and I am referring to Subparagraph (3) (c), on the top of Page 2 of the
Document C-75:
"(c) The raw material situation of
the pact powers demands that Japan should acquire possession of those
territories which it needs for the continuation of the war, especially
if the United States intervenes. Rubber shipments must be carried out
even after the entry of Japan into the war, since they are of vital
importance to Germany."
The
order continues in an unnumbered paragraph, immediately below
Subparagraph (3) (d):
"In addition, attacks on other
systems of bases of British naval power — extending to those of
American naval power only if the entry of the United States into the
war cannot be prevented — will result in weakening the enemy's
system of power in that region and also, just like the attack on sea
communications, in tying down substantial forces of all kinds
(Australia)."
In these
passages there is a clear envisagement of United States involvement, as
well as a clear intent to attack. The vital threat to United States
interests, if Japan were to capture Singapore, was also envisaged by the
Defendant Raeder in his meeting of 18 March 1941 with Hitler and the
Defendants Keitel and Jodl. These minutes are contained in our Document
C-152, which has already been put in as Exhibit GB-122. I wish now to
repeat the four sentences of Item 11 of the minutes of that conference,
contained on Page 1 of the English translation. I am quoting the
Defendant Raeder:
"Japan must take steps to seize
Singapore as soon as possible, since the opportunity will never again
be so favorable (tie-up of the whole English Fleet; unpreparedness of
the U.S.A. for war against Japan, inferiority of the United States
Fleet in comparison with the Japanese). Japan is indeed making
preparations for this action, but according to all declarations made
by Japanese officers, she will carry it out only if Germany proceeds
to land in England. Germany must, therefore, concentrate all her
efforts on spurring Japan to act