1937 was promoted to ambassador to Germany, and 1938 became ambassador to the Soviet Union.
1In May, 939, the Japanese Kwantung Army provoked a large-scale military conflict between Japan and the Soviet Union in Nomenkan, which borders China and Mongolia, for the purpose of "marching northward". However, it was strongly countered by the Soviet Union, and the Kwantung Army suffered heavy losses, almost wiped out 1 divisions, which shocked the ruling and opposition parties and made Dongxiang Maud negotiate with the Soviet side.
After many mediations between Dongxiang and Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov, the two sides signed an armistice agreement, and the military conflict between Japan and the Soviet Union came to an end. This is also a wonderful diplomatic activity in Dongxiang. Later, in the Far East International Military Tribunal, he was complacent and dressed himself as a "pacifist who dared to fight militarism".
194 1 year, tojo hideki formed a cabinet, and Dongxiang Maud was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Extension Affairs. As a senior diplomat, Dongxiang Maud should be well aware of the intention of Tojo's cabinet to expand the war, but he readily agreed to take office, which at least shows that he supports the war intention of Tojo's cabinet. However, according to historical data, Dongxiang once said that "if the army continues to take a tough stance against the Japanese garrison, it will be difficult to conduct diplomatic negotiations." Tojo said, "We will reconsider the negotiation with China and the United States, including the Japanese garrison.". On this premise, Dongxiang agreed to be the foreign minister.
1941115. Hirohito presided over the command meeting to study the war against the United States, and Dongxiang attended. After the headquarters meeting, Dongxiang put forward two negotiation plans, A and B, to deal with the United States.
Among them, plan A includes Japan's independent decision and interpretation of the German-Italian-Japanese alliance treaty; Committed to the principle of non-discrimination in international trade; Withdraw some Japanese troops stationed in northern China, Mongolia and Hainan Island within the specified time (25 years), and complete the withdrawal within two years on the premise of complete peace between China and Japan.
The second option is that neither Japan nor the United States can enter Southeast Asia and the South Pacific by force; In order to obtain materials from zhina, Japan and the United States work together; Resume the Japan-US trade treaty and provide oil supply.
Literally, both plan A and plan B are unacceptable to the United States, just to delay the time. After the two plans were drawn up, Dongxiang instructed Ambassador Nomura to negotiate with the United States on the condition of the two plans, and limited the negotiation time to165438+1October 25th. He also sent former Ambassador to Germany Kisaburo as a special envoy to assist Nomura until the war against the United States.
194 1 year165438+17 October, Ambassador Nomura first submitted Plan A to US Secretary of State Hull, which was resolutely rejected by the US. On June 5438+0 10, Dongxiang met with the American ambassador to Japan, Gru, and insisted that the United States accept it. After being rejected, Dongxiang met with the British Ambassador to Japan on June 5438+0 12 and asked him to mediate the Japan-US negotiations. Although there was no result, it bought some time for Japan.
165438+1On October 20th, Dongxiang instructed Nomura to propose Plan B to the US. 165438+1On October 27th, US Secretary of State Hull put forward the Hull Memorandum, demanding that Japan completely withdraw its troops from China and Indian zhina. Give up special rights and interests in China; It is not allowed to recognize other regimes outside Chongqing (referring to Wang Jingwei's regime). The presentation of the Hull Memorandum is tantamount to declaring the failure of Dongxiang diplomacy, while Tojo's cabinet regards it as a "surrender order" issued by the United States to Japan.
165438+1On October 28th and 29th, Dongxiang sent a secret telegram to Nomura, arguing that the Hull Memorandum "ignored the reality in East Asia and greatly damaged Japan's prestige" and instructed Nomura to verbally ask the US to "reflect on itself". 1October 30th, 165438+ Dongxiang sent a telegram to Ambassador Oshima, instructing him to tell the German side about the "stubborn attitude" of the United States towards triple alliance in order to win German sympathy and support. 65438+February 1, Hirohito presided over the command meeting again and finally decided to declare war on the United States, Britain and the Netherlands. In this way, Dongxiang, as a member of Japan's national war machine, pushed Japan onto the road of the Pacific War.
It is reported that Dongxiang was once ready to resign as a foreign minister after the failure of Japan-US negotiations, but some officials advised him that "if he resigned, the cabinet would immediately be replaced by a foreign minister who supported the war", and Dongxiang gave up the idea of resigning. In fact, from 194 1 to 1943, Dongxiang has been active in the political and diplomatic arena, helping tojo hideki and other warring factions to wage the Pacific War. 1September, 943, Tojo's cabinet decided to establish "Greater East Asia Province" in order to advocate "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Circle", and Dongxiang resigned because of opposition. However, within two years, Dongxiang became not only the foreign minister of Suzuki's cabinet, but also the minister of Greater East Asia, which he once opposed.
1946 In April, Dongxiang was identified as a Class A war criminal suspect and was arrested. 1948, the far east international military tribunal convicted him of "conspiracy to invade the war" and the crime of invading China, the United States, Britain and the Netherlands, and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
In the Far East International Military Tribunal, Dongxiang defended himself by saying that the Hull Memorandum called for Japanese withdrawal from China and French Indian zhina, including the abolition of triple alliance. If Japan accepts the memorandum, it will destroy triple alliance, which involves the issue of international beliefs.
In addition, if Japan accepts the memorandum to withdraw its troops, even the police, everything in China, North China and South China will become a bubble, and all Japanese enterprises will stop. Moreover, breaking faith with the Nanjing government (referring to Wang Jingwei's puppet regime) will arouse anti-Japanese and humiliating feelings in various places, and the Japanese army will have to evacuate from these places. The memorandum also calls for a return to the state before the Russo-Japanese War. Japan must withdraw from Manchuria, and its political influence will spread to North Korea ... Hull Memorandum forces Japan to surrender completely or explain the war. If the memorandum is accepted, Japan will not only be unable to maintain its status as a big country in East Asia, but also become a third-rate country.
Therefore, all (cabinet) members agree on the memorandum, and Japan has no choice but to defend itself, which is also the unanimous opinion of all. ""
This passage fully shows that Dongxiang has always stood on the position of colonial rulers and tried its best to safeguard Japan's so-called "national interests." In order to realize Japan's status as a "great power", even if it resorted to war. 1950, Dongxiang died while serving his sentence.