Hungary having decided to join the Tripartite Pact between Japan, Germany and Italy, a Protocol was signed at Vienna today, November 20, by the plenipotentiaries of the three Powers, namely, Ambassador Saburo Kurusu of Japan, Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop of Germany and Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano of Italy and the Hungarian plenipotentiary, Foreign Minister Stephen de Csaky.
The Protocol provides under Article 1 that Hungary participates in the Tripartite Pact ; under Article 2 that when the Japanese-German-Italian Joint Commission deliberates on a question affecting the interests of Hungary, representatives of the latter country will participate in the said Commission ; and under Article 3 that official texts of the Protocol are in Japanese, German, Italian and Hungarian languages and that the Protocol goes into effect on the day of its signature.
Hungary is the first country to join the Tripartite Pact. Her participation paves the way for other countries sharing in the common purpose and ideal with Japan, Germany and Italy. It will unquestionably contribute toward the attainment of the fundamental object of the Tripartite Pact and the strengthening of the respective positions of Japan and of Germany and Italy in Greater East Asia and the region of Europe.
Japan heartily welcomes the Hungarian participation in the Pact, for it is bound to further the cordial relations which have of late been growing between her and Hungary.