762.94/214
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 29.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that the adherence of Italy to the German-Japanese anti-Comintern pact took place at Rome on November 6 and that the news was tailed in this country with great enthusiasm. Not only did the press comment extensively and with approval, as reported by telegram,* but streets were decorated and parades were held in celebration of the event. By this step Italy has thus forged the third side of the German-Italian-Japanese anti-communist triangle and has definitely placed Japan in the so-called fascist block of nations. This event further marks the definite termination of Japan’s period of political and moral isolation which followed the Manchurian venture in 1931 and also emphasizes the abandonment of Japan’s previous and almost traditional alignment with the democratic powers.
The Embassy has, in a previous despatch,† discussed the use of the word “fascist” in connection with Japan, Italy and Germany. The term has come to be used to describe that which is the antonym of communist; therefore any state which is anti-communist is immediately labelled “fascist”. If the present triangular combination is analyzed, however, it becomes immediately apparent that not only is the group not merely anti-communist but that its policies and practices equally run counter to those of the so-called democratic powers. Thus it can be seen that the question resolves itself into the simple fact that it is a combination of those states which are bent upon upsetting the status quo as opposed to those states which wish to preserve the status quo, or, more simply, of the “have-nots” against the “haves”, and that anti-communism is merely the banner under which the “have-nots” are rallying.
[Page 161]The threat to England is very real and immediately apparent upon reflection that with the addition of Japan to the Rome-Berlin axis the life-line of the British Empire is threatened from the North Sea through the Mediterranean and beyond Singapore.
It is of some interest to note that in completing this triangular anti-communist pact Japan, instead of signing a separate agreement with Italy, arranged to have Italy adhere to the already existing German-Japanese pact in the expectation of avoiding giving unnecessary and further affront to Moscow such as was given last November when Berlin and Tokyo announced the anti-Comintern pact. This is an example of the greater delicacy with which such matters are handled when arranged by the civil authorities and through the proper channels as compared with the heavy-handedness of the military who engineered the pact with Germany apparently without the knowledge of the Foreign Office and timed it so badly that news of it leaked out only a few days before the settlement of the very troublesome fisheries question with Soviet Russia was to have taken place. Comment from Moscow on Rome’s recent action is lacking here but if there has been any it was undoubtedly directed largely against Italy. But it is easy to imagine the nature of the comment directed against Japan if Japan had signed a separate anti-Comintern agreement with Italy.
Respectfully yours,