Germany and Japan: A Study in Totalitarian Diplomacy 1933–1941

378 Pages·1958·10.18 MB·English

by  Ernst L. Presseisen (auth.)

Ernst L. Presseisen
Germany and
Japan
A Study in Totalitarian Diplomacy
1931–1941
GERMANY AND JAPAN
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS
FORUM
ASERIES OF BOOKS BY
AMERICAN SCHOLARS
12
ADVISORY BOARD
J. ANTON DE HAAS
Professor of International Relations at Claremont Men's College
PHILIP MUNZ
Director of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden
WILLIAM T. JONES
Professor of Philosophy, Pomona College
EDWARD WEISMILLER
Professor of English, Pomona College
FREDERICK HARD
President of Scripps College
DAVID DAVIES
Librarian of the H onnold Library
ERNST L. PRESSEISEN
GERMANY AND JAPAN
A STUDY IN TOTALITARIAN DIPLOMACY
1933-1941
•
.
Springer-Science+Business Media, B.V
1958
ISBN 978-94-017-6456-8 ISBN 978-94-017-6590-9 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-6590-9
Copyright 1958 by Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
Originally published by Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Netherlands in 1958.
Softcoverreprint ofthe kardeover Istedition 1958
All rights reserved, including the right to translate or to
reproduce this book or parts thereof in any form
To
Bianca and Max Shulster
who really made this book
possible
Immortal Gods, I crave no pelf;
I pray for no man but myself:
Grant I may never prove so fond,
To trust man on his oath or bond;
Or a harlot, for her weeping;
Or a dog, that seems a-sleeping;
Or a keeper with my freedom;
Or my friends, if I should need 'em.
TIM ON OF A THENS, ACT 1, 2
PREFACE
To undertake a topic in modern history means more often than not
quantity competing with the demands for quality. Not only did the
various international trials after the war release an avalanche of
documentary material, but the very loss of sovereignty for both
Germany and Japan opened up archives heretofore closed to most
investigators. Added to this was also the usual amount of personal
apologias, confidential revelations and the like. It seemed, moreover,
essential to the author that contemporary material be consulted as
frequently as possible in order to obtain an impression how events
were considered at the time of their occurrence. This involved a
rather careful analysis of a mass of propaganda publications,
newspapers, and periodicals; of the latter alone over two hundred
were examined for a period of about ten years.
In the preparation of this rather overwhelming task great service
was rendered by the many libraries which were consulted. The
authorities of Widener Library and the Law Library at Harvard
University, the University of California Library at Berkeley, the
Hoover Library at Stanford University and the Congressional
Library in Washington proved indeed most cooperative in their
assistance. A note of special appreciation should be made for
the Librarian of the Treasury Room at the Harvard Law School
where the records of the Far Eastern Military Tribunal are
deposited. Dr. Ikle of Miami University permitted me to use his
dissertation and I owe him a debt of gratitude. I also want to
express my appreciation for the many valuable suggestions made by
Dr. Fritz Epstein of the Library of Congress, and Dr. Gerhard
Weinberg of the University of Kentucky. My colleague, Dr. David
Stenzel, helped me with the arduous task of proofreading and saved
me from many pitfalls. The Department of the Army was kind
enough to allow a visit to the archives of the former German
J apanese Association in Berlin, which are now stored at the De
partmental Records Branch in Alexandria, Virginia.
Y et no mass of historical material, however informative, can
X PREFACE
serve a purpose without an adequate schooling in research and
analysis and a capacity for synthesis. The author had the good
fortune to benefit in his undergraduate training from Professor
Raymond Sontag at the University of California. His graduate
studies were conducted with Professor William Langer under whose
experienced guidance this study was prepared. As such this work
owes a great deal to these eminent teachers while its shortcomings
must be credited to the student. Any mistakes are indeed his
sole responsibility.
Stanford University April, 1958
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface IX
I. Background to an Alliance
I. Nazi Views
2. Geopolitical Plans 13
li. The League of Nations Loses Two Members 25
li I. The Shaping of German Far Rastern Policy 55
IV. The Anti-Comintern Pact 87
V. The First Crisis, 1937-1938 124
I. Attempts at Mediation 124
2. The German Commercial Retreat 147
VI. The Axis Becomes a Triangle 164
VII. N egotiations for an Alliance 189
VIII. The Second Crisis, 1939 223
IX. From Triangle to Tripartite Pact 250
X. Alliance Without Allies 281
XI. Conclusions 321
Appendices 327
Bibliography 331
Numerical Index of IMTFE Documents 350
Subject and Name Index 357