Under the second Konoye Cabinet, formed July 22, 1940, the flood
that had been sweeping over Japan since 1931 reached a new high.
Territorial aims were enlarged. Expansion was no longer to be confined
to China. The goal was now a “Greater East Asia,” including all the
rich colonial territories in southern Asiatic waters. At home, also,
the pace quickened. The army leaders moved toward full suppression of
the parties, and a reduction of the Diet’s powers. Obstacles to foreign
expansion and internal regimentation continued to exist, however, and
slowed down the fascist advance.
In foreign policy, the Konoye Cabinet made two far-reaching moves. On
September 27, 1940 it concluded a military alliance with Germany and
Italy. By this alliance, as we have seen, Japan was allotted “Greater
East Asia” for her “living space.” This sphere, however, was not yet
under Japanese control. It had to be won. So the second move was a step
in the direction of winning it. It was a move into Indo-China.
In September 1940, a French-Japanese agreement admitted a limited
number of Japanese troops to northern districts of the French colony of
Indo-China. These troops were the entering wedge. Then Japan pushed her
control southward to Saigon. Early in 1941, Tokyo dictated a settlement
of the Thailand-Indo-China conflict, which she hoped would eventually
yield her full control of Indo-China, and still greater powers over
Thailand, where Japanese influence was already strong. And Saigon, we
should add, is only 650 miles north of Singapore.