[Anti-Japanese Iron Blood King] Chapter 846: US-Japan Negotiations (Subscription Requested!) , ask for a monthly pass, ask for everything! ）

After receiving this document, the Japanese top brass was very happy, especially Fumima Konoe, who served as prime minister. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

In fact, Prime Minister Konoe had received a proposal with much the same content as this one from Tadao Ikawa's letter a few days earlier, but for the government and the other heads of the base camp it was very sudden, and the situation developed beyond their expectations.

On the night of May 15, under the chairmanship of Fumima Konoe, a joint meeting was held at the Imperial Palace of the Emperor of Japan, at which the prime minister explained what had happened. The meeting ended with a free discussion, and in the end it was decided to wait for Foreign Minister Matsuoka to return to Japan to further study and decide on attitudes, but the majority of the people were inclined to accept the Japan-US understanding.

However, the Japanese did not know that when the Americans submitted the proposal of understanding between the United States and Japan, Secretary of State Hull put forward three preconditions, and Secretary of State Hull pointed out at the time that the four principles he had emphasized long ago should be used as the preconditions for negotiations.

The four principles are: "1. Respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries. 2. Uphold the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. 3. Uphold the principle of equality, including equal opportunities for trade. Fourth, we should not undermine the status quo in the Pacific region except by peaceful means. ”

Knowing why, Ambassador Nomura did not report on what Secretary Hull said should be premised on the so-called four principles for negotiations. The Japanese side judged that even though the current Japan-US understanding proposal is only the basic plan for future informal talks between Japan and the United States, judging from the process of formulating it, it is actually the first proposal made by the US side.

Therefore, the Japanese side believes that if they accept it all. The epoch-making adjustment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the United States will be lightning-fast and a major change in world history will take place from this point forward.

However, Matsuoka believes that although Japan does need to reconsider the deteriorating US-Japan relations, he is not in favor of adjusting Japan-US diplomatic relations by currying favor with the United States, believing that such a move will not only be difficult to achieve in the end, but will also have the opposite effect and will be dangerous.

He advocated that the Japanese Government should use the Triple Alliance to contain the United States, prevent the United States from participating in the war in Europe, and make it no longer interfere in the China incident. Subsequently, at a joint meeting convened by the Japanese government, Foreign Minister Matsuoka proposed a compromise draft of a Japan-US neutrality treaty.

Everyone else objected to this, and they began to fight with each other. In the end, it was Emperor Hirohito who stepped forward and decided to have Foreign Minister Yoyo Matsuoka come forward to make official contacts with the United States on behalf of the Japanese government.

On 18 May, the Japanese side amended the US-Japan understanding proposed by the US Government, and on the basis of the US proposal, Japan put forward six proposals, namely: the international and national concepts held by Japan and the United States; the attitude of the two governments towards the war in Europe; the relationship between the two governments to the events in China; trade between the two countries; the economic activities of the two countries in the Southwest Pacific; The two governments' approach to stabilizing politics in the Pacific region.

The Japanese government believes that the governments of Japan and the United States should share the goal of achieving world peace. We are not only cooperating with each other to prevent the expansion of the war in Europe, but also working for the speedy restoration of peace.

The Government of Japan affirms that the Axis Coalition is defensive in nature and that its purpose is to prevent the participation in war of nations that have not yet participated in the European war; According to the Treaty of the Triple Alliance between Japan, Germany and Italy, the obligation of military assistance is to be fulfilled in the event of the provisions of Article 3 of the Treaty.

In addition, the Japanese Government hopes that the US Government will also openly affirm its attitude toward the war in Europe and will never adopt an offensive policy of aiding one side to attack the other, both now and in the future. The United States Government affirms that it is unswervingly opposed to war and that its attitude toward war in Europe, now and in the future, will be determined solely on the basis of the defense of its own interests and security.

With regard to the ongoing Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese Government hopes that the Government of the United States will recognize the three principles of the Konoe Declaration, the principles expressed in the treaty concluded thereunder with the Nanking Government and the Japan-Manchurian-Chinese Joint Declaration. And believing in the good-neighborly and friendly policy of the Japanese government, he immediately advised the Chiang regime to make peace.

With regard to trade between Japan and the United States, the Government of Japan hopes that after this understanding is reached and agreed by the two governments, Japan and the United States will each have the goods that each side needs. The supply should be guaranteed by the other party. At the same time, the two governments should take appropriate measures to restore the normal relations that existed during the period of the Japan-US trade treaty. If the two governments want to conclude a new treaty, they can study it through the Japan-US talks and conclude it as is customary.

With regard to the economic activities of the two countries in the South-West Pacific, the Government of Japan has also made its own request regarding Japan's desire to produce and acquire oil, rubber, tin, nickel and other materials in the region, in view of Japan's affirmation that it will pursue its development in the South-West Pacific by peaceful means. The United States should assist. In other words, Japan asked the United States to assist Japan in obtaining all the resources needed for the war in the Southwest Pacific.

With regard to the policy of the two Governments to stabilize politics in the Pacific region, Japan has put forward two proposals: First, the governments of Japan and the United States should jointly guarantee the independence of the Philippines on the condition that it maintains its permanent neutrality and does not discriminate against Japanese nationals on the island. Second, the United States should treat Japanese immigrants in a friendly manner and treat them the same as other nationals.

Subsequently, with the support of the Japanese government, Matsuoka informed his allies, Germany and Italy, and the United States began formal contacts, and daily talks began.

However, Foreign Minister Matsuoka did not send a telegram to Ambassador Nomura to the United States to revise the proposal, and Matsuoka's idea was that as an ally of Germany and Italy, it was necessary for Japan to determine the intentions of Germany and Italy, revise the proposal if necessary, and then put it into practice. After all, according to the content of the Triple Entente, Japan and Germany were a military alliance. Negotiations with the United States require the consent of Germany and Italy.

Moreover, Foreign Minister Matsuoka also believed that what the United States had done so far was the same as entering the war, since the Anglo-French forces were defeated by the German army. US President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked the US Congress to increase national defense funding to strengthen war preparedness. In order to gain the support of the Republicans, Roosevelt appointed Henry **** as Secretary of the Army. Knox was the Secretary of the Navy.

Under Roosevelt's influence, the US Congress approved the expansion of the Army and Navy, and under his leadership, the Burke-Wadsworth Elective Conscription Act was passed.

Not long ago, Roosevelt signed an agreement with the British government to transfer 50 destroyers to Britain, and Britain leased part of its naval base to the United States. This agreement marked the end of formal neutrality and marked the beginning of limited U.S. participation in the war.

Japan, as a great power, should have protested, but for some special reasons, Japan did not reproach the United States for its limited participation in the war, but instead pretended to be deaf and dumb.

Fortunately, Hitler has tolerated it to this day, but it is difficult to say that he will not take action against the United States. If Germany takes action, it is understandable that Japan will of course also act according to the Treaty of Alliance.

It is not easy for Japan to prevent the United States from entering the war and to withdraw the United States from China. Therefore, Foreign Minister Matsuoka believes that there is no need to rush negotiations with the United States.

On May 22, the Ambassadors of Germany and Italy visited Foreign Minister Matsuoka, and the German Ambassador conveyed the views of his government. The German ambassador believes that the President of the United States proposed this time. The Japanese Government itself certainly knows best how far Japan's future actions within the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere will be restricted.

The German Government believes that this proposal is an attempt by the US side to ostensibly ease the situation in the Pacific in order to dispel the fear of anti-war elements in the United States and thus move toward the established direction of entering the war.

It is clear that the policy of the United States Government is not to issue a declaration of war. Gradually, the actual violation of the defense was intensified, and after Germany and Italy had countered it, the responsibility for the war was shifted to the Axis powers.

Therefore, the German Government believes that the Japanese Government, in its reply to the United States Government, should emphasize that the current actions taken by the United States Government, such as patrols or escorts, are violations of international law, and that the continuation of these acts by the United States is intended to provoke war and therefore inevitably lead to Japan's forced entry into the war.

Finally, in view of the fact that this question will have a significant impact on the States parties to the Triple Alliance Treaty, the German Government earnestly hopes that the Government of Japan will inform the Governments of Germany and Italy of the contents of the reply and will seek their views before issuing a final reply. (To be continued.) )