740.0011 European War 1939/13477: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 25—6:25 p.m.]
1084. 1. Tolischus40 tells me that he has learned from a source close to the Prime Minister which he regards as completely reliable that shortly after the assembly of the new Cabinet the German Ambassador called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs41 and asked him to convey to Prince Konoye a message to the effect that (1) Germany will have successfully completed its campaign in Russia in August, (2) Germany will invade Great Britain in September and (3) the war will end in a German victory before winter. It, therefore, behooves Japan to remain loyal to the Tripartite Alliance.
2. Informant furthermore told Tolischus that Germany wants Japan to invade Soviet Russia instead of pursuing the southward advance and that the Germans desired the dropping of Matsuoka not only because he talked too much but because he was responsible for the neutrality treaty with Soviet Russia.
3. The foregoing report is communicated to the Department without any undertaking on my part as to its accuracy but because Tolischus informs me that he is entirely convinced of its reliability.