Evaluate the reasons for, and the results of, Japan’s signing of the Three Party/Tripartite Pact (1940).

The question requires that the candidates make an appraisal of the reasons for, and results of, Japan’s signing of the Three party/Tripartite Pact, weighing up their importance, or otherwise. Candidates may offer equal coverage of reasons and results, or they may prioritize one or the other. However, both aspects will be a feature of the response. Candidates may evaluate Japan’s need for allies, as progress in the Chinese campaign was slow and draining Japan’s resources. Candidates may evaluate the shared ideology between the three powers and how the Axis powers were potentially sympathetic to the Japanese cause. The Pact was a victory for the pro-Axis lobby in Tokyo, and it was hoped that Japan would gain support in expanding into South-East Asia. However, candidates may argue that although Japan was able to station troops in Indo-China, the US was provoked into imposing a damaging trade embargo, and that little military benefit was derived. As a result of the trade embargo, Japan looked to the Dutch East Indies for oil and, to ensure success there, the Japanese took the decision to go on the offensive and attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Candidates may therefore argue that a result of the Tripartite Pact was war in the Pacific and Japan’s eventual defeat. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that the candidates make an appraisal of the reasons for, and results of, Japan's signing of the Three party/Tripartite Pact. A relatively popular question. Responses varied greatly in quality. Weaker responses discussed the reasons for Japan becoming more militaristic without focusing on the pact specifically. Some candidates also drifted into lengthy discussions about the situations in Italy and Germany at this time. Most candidates seemed to struggle to discuss the results of the pact with very few showing an awareness of how it benefited Japan, particularly with reference to Japan gaining control of Indo-China. In a significant number of responses seen there were some major chronological issues, particularly with reference to the oil embargoes imposed on Japan.