The Archive · 1939

Effect on Foreign Minister

The resignation of the two key ambassadors might also entail Mr. Arita's resignation because the entire question of Japanese foreign policy is involved, it was said. In that event, Mr. Shigenori Togo, Japanese Ambassador to Moscow who is expected to return te Tokyo soon, probably would be appointed new Foreign Minister.

Difficulties between the two am: bassadors and the Japanese Foreign Office explain the lull in developments here since last Saturday when the Irner Cabinet reached a final decision on Japan's European policy.

Originally it had been expected that details of the policy would be announced May 22 coincident with the signing of the Italian-German military alliance, but it is now known that the two Japanese ambassadors failed to convey the Japanese Government' decision. They explained to the Tokyo Foreign Office that the German and Italian Foreign Ministers had been "otherwise engaged" and that conferences consequently could not be arranged with them.

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