[Secret]
From: Berlin
To: Tokyo
1 October 1941
(Purple)
#1198
On
this the occasion of the first anniversary of the Tripartite Pact, Foreign
Minister Ribbentrop has come to Berlin from the Imperial Headquarters
especially and I have had several visits with him. Using this opportunity I,
and the other members of the staff, have mingled with people from all classes
of society and visited with them. I am endeavoring to sum up all these
experiences and analyze the present state of feeling toward Japan held by
Germany in this report to you.
1.
Ribbentrop said that he had absolute proof that, while reports of the content
of the Japanese-American negotiations were withheld from Ambassador Ott,
America was in secret communication with England in regard to the
Japanese-American negotiations. Even Ribbentrop who is supposed to understand
Japan's position, expressed great dissatisfaction regarding Japan's attitude.
2.
That the Foreign Office staff from Weizsacker down and also everyone in general
were thoroughly disgusted with Japan was very apparent from their attitude toward
myself and other members of the staff. Everyone who feels kindly disposed
toward Japan is deeply concerned over this state of affairs. Even those who do
not come to the same conclusion that Ambassador Ott did in his telegram are
outspoken in their dissatisfaction and expression of pessimistic views. I am
trying to take the position in interviews with newspaper correspondents and
others concerned with the outside that Germany is cognizant of the
Japanese-American negotiations and that they are no indication of an alienation
between Japan and Germany.
3.
Foreign diplomats and newspaper correspondents of third countries show great
interest in the Japanese attitude and seem to consider it in a certain sense as
a barometer by which the course of the European war can be judged. However we
receive the impression that the greater number feel that Japan is avoiding war
because of the impoverishment resulting from the China incident and is taking a
pessimistic attitude toward the course of the European war.
4.
Even though it might be said that Germany is prepared for these machinations of
estrangement by third countries and that she is keeping up the pretense that
there is no chance in her feelings toward Japan, the fact that the feeling of
German leaders and the people in general toward Japan is getting bad is one
that cannot be covered. Please bear this fact in mind. If Japan takes a
wishy-washy attitude and goes ahead with her negotiations without consulting
Germany there is no telling what steps Germany may take without consulting
Japan.
Please
convey this to the army and navy.
Relayed
to Rome.
23673
JD-1: (H) Navy Trans. 10-18-41 (4)
(EXHIBITS
OF JOINT COMMITTEE , EXHIBIT NO. 1 INTERCEPTED DIPLOMATIC MESSAGES SENT BY THE
JAPANESE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN JULY l AND DECEMBER 8, 1941)