Theory was theory, reality was reality. Though they seemed to have fulfilled the agreement and the crisis appeared to have passed, no one felt at ease.
Verbal promises were inherently insubstantial, especially vague, ambiguous promises without any specific terms. Those offered even less security.
Yamagata Aritomo said, "Ito, the Vienna Government still hasn't agreed to let us withdraw from the war. This is only a temporary ceasefire; formal negotiations haven't even begun.
"Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and the other countries have all signed ceasefire agreements with the Continental Alliance. Although the price they must pay has yet to be determined, those countries have indeed withdrawn from this war.
"Only the British Empire, the United States of America, and our three countries remain at war with the Continental Alliance.
"The dust has yet to settle. No one knows what the Vienna Government is thinking. What if they turn their backs and deny everything?"
This concern was not unnecessary. Although the Vienna Government had an excellent reputation, the Japanese Government had reached no substantive agreement with them.
Even regarding the attack on the Russians, the Vienna Government had merely hinted at it by demanding that the Japanese Government "show sincerity"; they had never stated it outright.
Whether it counted as "sincerity" depended entirely on the Vienna Government's mood. If the Vienna Government turned hostile, the Japanese Government would have no recourse at all.
Hirobumi Ito said, "Yamagata, things are not that bad. When the British Empire falls, the Holy Roman Empire will eat its fill.
"With so many colonies, digesting them will always take time. According to intelligence from Europe, the Vienna Government even plans to abandon India.
"Under conditions of absolute superiority, giving up the wealthiest India is surely not merely to win over allies. More likely, it is part of their