Final chord of the Second World War

Already on April, 13, 1941 between the USSR and Japan the pact of neutrality was concluded. But could this diplomatic step become a reliable preventer of the war between two states? The answer can be found in the utterance of Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yōsuke Matsuok within three days after the USSR was attacked by Germany: “The basis of foreign policy of Japan is the Tripartite Pact, and if present war and the pact of neutrality conflicts with this basis and the Tripartite Pact, then the pact of neutrality will not have force”.

Oleksandr LYSENKO, Valerii HRYTSIUK