But Hitler’s military victories in the spring of 1940, and especially
the defeat of France, swiftly altered Japan’s position in the Far East.
The “moderation” which the Abe and Yonai Cabinets had shown in foreign
policy suddenly vanished. Intense pressure was brought to bear on the
French authorities in the Far East. In June the French Ambassador at
Tokyo agreed to stop shipments of goods to China over the Indo-China
Railway. Less than a month later, the British government also bowed to
the Japanese demand that the Burma Road be closed for three months. But
these gains were not enough for the extremist elements within Japan.
They had received a fresh impetus from Hitler’s successes, and were
prepared to move far more boldly both on the home and foreign fronts.
The War Minister, maneuvering for the set-up of an equally bold and
impetuous Cabinet, suddenly offered his resignation. Thus, on July 16,
1940, the Yonai Cabinet crumbled.