Kobayashi-Yoshizawa Economic Mission

Don...

The name of the book in question is "The Netherlands Indies and Japan: Battle of Paper 1940-1941." It was written by Hubertus J. van Mook, Minister for the Colonies, Netherlands Government. The entire book, literally all 138 pages of it, is dedicated solely to the economic and trade relations between the NEI and Japan immediately prior to Pearl Harbor.

There were actually 2 trade missions sent by Japan. The first was headed by I. Kobayashi, Minister of Commerce and Industry. Normally, van Mook would have handled the bulk of trade talks, but he was far outranked by Kobayashi who was a reigning cabinet minister in the Japanese government. As a result, he dealt with the NEI governor-general. That chapter is 32 pages long and somewhat difficult to truncate. But most of their requests centered around increase oil and and raw materials exports.

The Kobayashi mission arrived on Java on September 12, 1940. He abruptly departed on October 22, 1940. His mission was widely considered to be a failure in Japan. As a result, he was replaced by one K. Yoshizawa who arrived on Java December 28, 1940. His stay lasted until June 27, 1941. In addition to oil and raw materials, many of his demands centered around Japanese rights in the NEI. It is very safe to say that if the Japanese demands had been accepted the NEI would have become a defacto colony of Japan.

There is little mention of Ota Mamoru.

HTH...
Tom