BERLIN, Sept. 27, 1940 (UP) -- Germany, Italy and Japan today pledged themselves in a 10-year pact to fight as common foe any nation, including the United Sates, which goes to war against their "new orders" in Europe and Asia.
The alliance, pledging joint "economic, political and military" collaboration if any new nation enters the war in Europe or the Far East, was signed in Adolf Hitler's Chancellory at 1:13 p.m. (7:13 a.m., New York Time.)
Hitler, clad in his customary uniform of military gray-green, witnessed the latter part of the ceremony at which delegates of the three powers signed the pact.
Nazi sources said the pact was directed against possibility of a U.S.-Great Britain military alliance and constituted the Axis reply to the "destroyer deal between the United Sates and England."
Spain -- surpassingly not a signatory to the pact -- was expected in Nazi quarters to sign the pact next week. Spain's emissary, Ramon Serrano Suner, conferred with Italian Foreign Minister Count Ciano for two hours late today.
Japan is not brought into the war automatically against Britain nor are the Axis powers required to go to war against China. However, entry of any nation at the side of Britain or China automatically brings all three powers into action against the common foe.
Other nations are invited to join the pact, particularly if they desire a share in the spoils of war which will become available in event of victories by German, Italy and Japan.
Russia is covered by an "escape" clause providing that the pact does "not in any way affect the political status which exists at present as between each of the three contracting parties and Soviet Russia."
German quarters said the alliance could not possible be conceived as directed against Russia since Japan's new expansion now was pointed away from the Soviet and toward the South Pacific. An announcement demonstrating rapprochement between Japan and Russia even may be expected shortly, Nazi quarters said.
Setting for signing of the alliance was provided in the alliance was provided in the dramatic manner which has become typical of Nazi diplomatic and political events.
No advance word was allowed to circulate in Germany that Japan was to be the third party to the pact. First indication came when Berlin school children were given Japanese flags to wave.
The ceremony was delayed more than an hour when Count Galeazzo Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, was late in flying to Berlin from Munich.
The pact was signed in the great diplomatic hall of the Chancellery. At the conference table were Ciano, German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and Japanese Ambassador Saburu Kurusu.
Staffs of the Italian and Japanese embassies, high Foreign Office Officials and Hitler's adjutants stood about the room. The German and foreign press was ushered in Japanese and Italian correspondents being given seats of preference.
A pause followed. Then a Chancellery attendant banged his staff on the floor three times and Hitler entered, taking a seat between Ciano and Ribbentrop.
Floodlights clicked on and movie cameras ground as the signatures were affixed. In two minutes the pact was signed.
Ribbentrop in a sonorous, low-pitched voice read a declaration in behalf of Germany, declaring the pact a "military alliance of the three most powerful states on earth." He emphasized that any threat to the new hegemonies in Europe and Asia would be met with the combined strength of nations mustering 250,000,000 people.
Ciano spoke next, in staccato, precise Italian. He, too, emphasized the linking of 250,000,000 citizens, as did Kurusu, who spoke last in high-pitched Japanese.
The German press, echoing the statements of German spokesmen, quickly took the line that the pact enormously strengthened all three nations in their fight for a new world order.
Von Ribbentrop told the witnesses to the signing of the treaty:
"The three-power pact is a military alliance of three of the most powerful states on earth.
"The three-power pact is not directed against any nation but against irresponsible war mongers who desired to spread war.
"It is for the preservation of German and Italian leadership in the new order in Europe as well as Japanese pre-eminence in the new order in the Far East."
Ribbentrop signed first, Kurusu second and Ciano third.
Hitler entered the room immediately before the affixation of signatures. He appeared grim as he listened to the speeches of Ciano, Kurusu and Ribbentrop. He intermittently stared at the ceiling or straight ahead at the audience. He sat with his elbows resting on the arms of his chair and his hands clasped in front of his chest. He gazed intently at Ciano during the Fascist envoy's speech.
Kurusu said "I am sincerely pleased that on this day a three-power pact which is truly historical importance has been signed with German and Italy, two nations with whom we are on friendly terms.
"In view of the circumstance that our three nations reveal many similar traits in common as regards tradition and character of peoples, and because each one of us is at present actively engaged in the establishment of the new order of greater eastern Asia and Europe, a reciprocal feeling of deep understanding and sympathy already has manifested itself and a firm tie of friendship links us together."
Ciano said:
"The treaty which this day binds Italy, Germany and Japan seals and confirms by solemn pledge the political, economic and military co-operation and the communion of aims and interests existing between these three countries during recent years in which a new history of the world is being forced."
He continued:
"The terms of the treaty which we have this day concluded are unequivocal in simplicity and clarity. Germany and Italy recognize and respect the leading part played by Japan in the creation of a new order in greater eastern Asia, just as Japan recognizes and respects the leading part played by Germany and Italy in the creation of a new order in Europe.
"The three powers have no intention of challenging or threatening anyone."
In connection with future adherence of other nations to the pact there was widespread speculation on the position of Spain. The Rome and Berlin newspapers had insisted that Spain was ready to join the Axis drive against Great Britain, and it had been expected that the Spanish government would be a party to the pact.
