ABSTRACT
But, whether true or not, divergencies on policy were not the only cause of Mr. Matsuoka's fall. As shown earlier, the popularity of the Foreign Minister had for some time been waning. It was reported that he had been asked to resign, but had firmly refused. Thereupon Prince Konoye cut the Gordian knot by the simple process of himself resigning and then reconstituting his Cabinet with a new Foreign Minister. A few days later Mr. Matsuoka left the capital, an ill man, and retired into relative political obscurity. In one short year his policies had enmeshed Japan so inextricably in the Axis net that, despite his vaunted preference for more peaceful methods, the danger of japan's ultimate involvement in war with the Western Democracies had immeasurably increased.
