Relations with Italy and Japan. 5. It is necessary also to consider Germany's relations with her two most important former partners in the anti-Comintern Pact. She must realise that, unless circumstances change, it is unlikely that Italy will enter the war on her side. Her present purposes must be to secure that Italy's neutrality should be benevolent to her; to obtain as large quantities as possible of essential materials from and through Italy; and, whilst maintaining a wholesome fear of the might of the German military machine, to run no risk of driving Italy into the Allied camp.