762.9411/220: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan ( Grew ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 29—3:35 a.m.]
130. My British colleague4 on January 23 sent a telegram to London of which the following is the substance:
In course of conversation today I mentioned that in our interviews on the subject of tripartite pact, Minister for Foreign Affairs5 had stated that only in the event of article 3 of that treaty coining into operation would Japan be likely to be involved in war with us. I had noticed in every particular that in his speech of January 16 he had implied that in the event of the war’s going against Germany Japan might feel it necessary to intervene. Had I correctly understood His Excellency’s meaning?
Mr. Matsuoka disabused Japanese public of the idea that the conclusion of this treaty was a gamble on German victory. Should article 3 be invoked it would come into operation just as effectively whether or not at the particular time Germany was being successful. He had always objected strongly to the Japanese attitude during the last war when, despite Japan’s alliance with Great Britain, many Japanese had sided with Germany. This time, he said, there was to be no “sitting on the fence” and Japan must assist her allies wholeheartedly whether they were winning or losing. By “assistance”, however, he did not necessarily mean the use of armed force, the moment for which still remained governed by the terms of article 3 of the treaty.