Japan urged to decide on fighting U.S. (5-12-41)

The Pittsburgh Press (May 12, 1941)

JAPS URGED TO DECIDE ON FIGHTING U.S.

Tokyo, May 12 (UP) –
The government and public must study the Japanese alliance with Germany and Italy at once, to determine Japan’s obligations in case the United States enters the war, Kiyoshi Kiyosawa, a leading political commentator, said today in the newspaper Chugai.

Kiyosawa said the question whether and when the United States entered the war was Japan’s most important problem.

Japan must be faithful to the Axis pact, he said, and therefore it was urgently necessary to study carefully what Japan should do if German-American hostilities start without a declaration of war, or if the United States declares war on Germany.

If the United States declares war on Germany, Article III of the pact would come into operation, Kiyosawa said, and therefore Japan must decide whether the clause means that it must actually enter the war.

Article III of the Japanese-German-Italian alliance reads:

Japan, Germany, and Italy agree to cooperate in their efforts on aforesaid lines. They further undertake to assist one another with all political, economic and military means if one of the Contracting Powers is attacked by a Power at present not involved in the European War or in the Japanese-Chinese conflict.

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