“1800 hours. The naval attaché extended an invitation to several officers of the Japanese Naval Ministry. It transpires from the conversation that the negotiations in Washington must be regarded as having broken down completely and that, quite obviously, the beginning of actions to the south by the Japanese Armed Forces is to be expected in the near future.”
And then on 6 December 1941:
“Conversation with Fregattenkapitän Shiba.”
The outcome of the conversation is reported to Berlin in the following telegram:
“Naval Attaché, 1251. Military Secret:
“1. Last week America offered a nonaggression pact between the United States, England, Russia and Japan. In view of the Tripartite Pact and the high counterdemands, Japan rejected this offer. Negotiations have therefore completely broken down.
“2. The Armed Forces foresaw this development and consented to Kurusu’s being sent only to impress the people with the fact that all means had been exhausted.
“3. The Armed Forces have already decided 3 weeks ago that war is inevitable, even if the United States at the last minute should make substantial concessions. Appropriate measures are under way.”
And then—I will not read the whole document, and at the end it says:
“A state of war with Britain and America would certainly exist by Christmas.”