Reports by the German naval attache in Japan, on the breakdown of US-Japanese negotiations, and Japanese preparations for a military attack against Britain and the US in December 1941

Extracts from the War Diary of the German Naval Attache in
Tokyo (PG/32145)
3.12.41. .
1800. The Naval Attache extended an invitation to several officers of the Japanese Naval Ministry. It transpires from the conversation that the negotiations in Washington must be deemed to have broken down completely and that, quite obviously, speedy military action to the South by the Japanese armed forces is to be counted on.
6.12.41.
Conversation with Commander Shiba The outcome of the conversation is reported to Berlin in the following signal:
Naval Attache 1251 Top Secret.
1. Last week, America proposed a nonaggression pact between the United States, Britain, Russia, and Japan. In view of the Tripartite Pact and the high compensatory demands, Japan rejected this offer. Negotiations have therefore completely broken down.
2. The Japanese Armed Forces foresaw this development and consented to Kurusu's being sent only to impress the people with the fact that no stone had been left unturned.
3. The Japanese Armed Forces have already decided (three weeks ago) that war is inevitable, even if the United States, at the last minute, should make still greater concessions. Corresponding measures are under way.
4. Oshima is authorized to conduct negotiations in Berlin in accordance with Naval Attache's 214/15 paragraph 5.
5. Addition. Naval Attache: No exact details are available as to the zero hour for the commencement of the Southern Offensive. All the evidence, however, indicates that it may be expected to start within three weeks and simultaneously attacks on Siam, the Philippines, and Borneo will be launched.
6. The ambassador has no knowledge of the transmission of the telegram, but is acquainted with its contents.
7. The contents of paragraph six will be abbreviated in future to the codeword "Switch-off" ["Ausschaltung"]. In which case, please do not pass to Foreign Office.
Shiba said that the outbreak of hostilities was definitely to be expected this year. He could not, however, give me an exact zero hour in view of the necessity for surprise. A state of war with Britain and America would certainly be established by Christmas. From this I got the impression: in three weeks.
Date and Time
12.15