Why does the Japan-US draft understanding make Japan an international joke? Regard folk people as treasures

194 1 At the beginning of the year, with the determination of the strategy of "Europe first, then Asia" by the United States and Britain and the promulgation of the Lending Act, far-sighted Roosevelt was prepared to actively participate in international affairs by participating in the war. While fully supporting Britain, he tried to stabilize and delay Japan in the Far East and gain time for preparing for war.

On the Japanese side, since Germany, Italy and Japan signed the alliance treaty, they are also eager to leave the battlefield in China and implement the policy of "going south", but the tense international relations have greatly restricted their actions. To this end, Japan launched a series of dazzling diplomacy, among which the most active ones, Nomura Jisaburo and Matsuoka Youyou, were dumbfounded by their contradictory practices.

The Japanese ambassador to the United States, Yoshizaburo Nomura, who was famous for the Pearl Harbor incident, has a well-known thing that the South Korean righteous Yoon was blinded in Hongkou Park. As an admiral, this man is a rare "pro-American" in Japan, and he strongly opposes Germany, Italy, Japan and triple alliance.

In order to improve the deteriorating relationship between Japan and the United States, Nomura, who was idle at home, was persuaded by Foreign Minister Youko Matsuoka to be the ambassador to the United States for many times. As the best candidate for negotiation, he not only understood the foreign policy of the United States, but also forged a deep friendship and good personal relationship with Roosevelt, then assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, during his tenure as the naval attache in the United States.

Japan is full of expectations for Nomura to improve Japan-US relations. He also vowed that "no matter how serious the differences between Japan and the United States are, they can be settled amicably, and there is no reason for the two countries to go to war." Nomura's "friendly attitude" has been recognized by Americans and received a grand reception as a guest of honor.

Old friends are particularly affectionate when they meet. Nomura conveyed Japan's desire for peace and immediately received a positive response from Roosevelt. As a result, the well-known "Japan-US Draft Understanding" was made public, which not only recognized Japan's continued stay in triple alliance and restored the normalization of trade between the two sides, but also recognized the puppet Manchukuo.

When the news came back to Japan, the tense atmosphere was instantly relieved, and the military and political high-level officials were jubilant. "Everything went so smoothly that it was unbelievable." Even Emperor Hirohito was deeply surprised by such loose terms proposed by the United States. In any case, the unresolved war of aggression against China for many years has been recognized by the United States, and China will be the victim.

As we all know, the "draft" is only the result of private discussion and does not represent the official attitude at all. The reason why the United States is willing to negotiate on this basis is entirely to make military preparations and gain more time. In other words, the tough attitude of the United States has not changed at all, and Nomura, who is eager for quick success and instant benefit, has made Japan an international joke.

194 1 in March, Japan made diplomatic efforts to implement the policy of "going south" as soon as possible. On the one hand, negotiate with the United States to improve relations and ease the pressure from the United States; On the one hand, it actively focuses on the treaty of alliance between Germany, Italy and Japan, and strives to win over the Soviet Union known as the Eurasian Union and eliminate the threat from the north.

In the Japanese cabinet, foreign minister Yodai Matsuoka is a pivotal figure. As a representative of the "pro-German faction", he advocated that Germany, Italy, Japan and the Soviet Union form a four-nation alliance to dominate Europe and Asia, so as to force the United States to submit, end the war of aggression against China as soon as possible, and finally realize the strategic goal of "going south". This is also the purpose of his trip to Europe.

In Matsuoka's view, Germany, Italy and Japan are in the closest period of state relations at this time, so we can make full use of the opportunity of signing the non-aggression treaty between the Soviet Union and Germany to at least improve the tense relationship between Japan and the Soviet Union; Once an understanding is reached with the Soviet Union, it will not only be safe to "go south", but also make it give up its aid activities to China and speed up the war process.

However, German Foreign Minister ribbentrop invited Matsuoka to visit Germany many times, but there was something hidden behind it. It turned out that the German invasion of Britain was not smooth, and the sea lion plan was delayed again and again; To this end, Germany hopes that Japan will take action in the Far East and attack the British colony of Singapore, which will not only distract attention, but also dampen morale and force it to submit.

Of course, what can't be told to Matsuoka is that Germany is ready to attack the Soviet Union. In other words, Matsuoka's idea of counting on an alliance between Germany, Italy, Japan and the Soviet Union was not only rebuffed by the Germans, but also implied not to get too close to the Soviet Union. On the contrary, he repeatedly asked Japan to seize Singapore. Is the cunning Matsuoka willing to agree easily? He has his own strategic steps.

In the final analysis, both Japan and Germany have ulterior motives and are planning for their own interests. They are not in the same rhythm at all, and the negotiations ended in discord. Seeing that the plan of Japan-Soviet alliance failed, depressed Matsuoka thought of an expedient measure and unilaterally signed a neutral treaty with the Soviet Union. This formulation received a positive response from the Soviet Union.

It turned out that information from all sides showed that the German army was about to attack the Soviet Union, which made Soviet commanders very worried that Japan and Germany would echo from a distance, and the Soviet army would fall into an embarrassing situation of fighting on both sides, and Matsuoka's proposal was just right. As a result, the two sides quickly signed the Treaty of Neutrality between the Soviet Union and Japan, which was very satisfactory to each other. Matsuoka also completed his visit to Europe.

194 1 in April, Youko Matsuoka, who was on his way back to China, suddenly became a Japanese "great hero", and he was completely intoxicated with madness. It was with his efforts that the Soviet Union and Japan signed the Treaty of Neutrality in an instant, which not only shocked the whole world, but also solved the biggest threat of Japan's "going south".

What makes him even more proud is that the news that the United States has made "major concessions" comes from the "rear." This made him eager to go to Washington as soon as possible, and he was full of confidence in Japan-US diplomatic relations aimed at solving the war of aggression against China. However, when he learned that the so-called "major concession" only came from the "Japan-US draft understanding" agreed by several people, he flew into a rage.

First of all, on such an important matter, cabinet members rashly decided on the future direction of Japan and the United States when the foreign minister was not at home, obviously paying no attention to the foreign minister at all; What's more, it's very exciting to listen to the initiative of several non-governmental people, which not only shows the "imbecility" of making friends abroad, but also becomes a joke of peers internationally.

Secondly, the purpose of Matsuoka's trip to Europe is to unite Germany and Italy, win over the Soviet Union, and on this basis, force the United States to yield, and dare not expect anything in the Pacific region to ensure that the Japanese army can "go south" smoothly. Now it is easy to bargain with the United States, and even make concessions for good, which completely disrupts its diplomatic strategy and steps, and the anger can be imagined.

What's more, I thought he was the protagonist in the negotiations between the United States and Roosevelt. I didn't expect Fumimaro Konoe, Nomura Securities and others to cut in and steal his thunder. This is unbearable for Matsuoka who likes grandstanding. Therefore, he strongly opposed the "draft" and simply stayed at home for illness, with no support.

In the United States, Nomura Yoshisaburo, who is waiting for instructions from Tokyo, is extremely anxious. Negotiations between Japan and the United States are about to start here, but the foreign minister does not express his position. Is this ridiculous? After waiting for 10 days, Matsuoka, unable to bear loneliness, decided to sign a compromise "Japan-US Neutrality Treaty" with the "three principles" he pondered.

The contents are as follows: Japan abides by the trilateral alliance treaty between Germany, Italy and Japan; The United States must recognize Wang Jingwei's government and the Japanese right to station troops in China; And on the issue of southward advancement, Japan does not promise not to use force. This obviously threatening principle was naturally flatly rejected by the United States, and the negotiation platform that Nomura worked so hard to build was wasted.

In this regard, the attitude of the United States is very tough. Roosevelt announced that "the United States is in an unrestricted state of emergency"; On the one hand, as a prerequisite for the Japan-US peace talks, the Japanese army must completely withdraw from China and form a triple alliance. This is not only a great insult to Matsuoka, but also a ruthless offense to Japan. The Japan-US negotiations were a complete failure.

References: World War II, Pacific Ocean.