What Mahe saw as a minor issue, Arita Hachiro did not see that way. More importantly, he worried there might be some scheme behind it, and for the same reason, he intended to stall first.
Having received no immediate reply, Ambassador Mahe was in no hurry either.
"Mr. Arita Hachiro, since you cannot make the decision, I will not stay any longer. I hope the Japanese Government will reach a decision as soon as possible."
Although he had refused Ambassador Mahe, Arita Hachiro still saw his guest out with great courtesy.
After seeing Ambassador Mahe off, Arita Hachiro ordered his subordinate, "Prepare the car immediately! I am going to see the Prime Minister and report on this matter."
Edo, Nagatacho, Prime Minister's Residence.
Hiranuma Kiichirō calmly listened to Arita Hachiro's report, but his brow furrowed as well.
"Minister Arita, what role do you think East Africa is playing this time? What is its attitude toward the Netherlands and toward us?"
Arita Hachiro said, "Prime Minister, based on my previous observations, although East Africa leans toward the Dutch, it does not seem to intend to stick its neck out for them. On the surface, Ambassador Mahe of East Africa is speaking for the Dutch, but that is all..."
Hiranuma Kiichirō lifted his teacup and blew across it. He said to Arita Hachiro, "What worries me most now is that East Africa may also have designs on the Dutch East Indies colony."
"If the East Africans have set their sights on the Dutch East Indies colony as well, it will be extremely disadvantageous to the Empire. The war with the Soviet Union has already left us riding a tiger with no way to dismount. If we fall out with East Africa as well..."
Clearly, the Japanese had been badly hurt by the