The superior international position, which she held as one of the Five Great Powers in the Conference, and which she would hold in the League of Nations as one of the Principal Powers in the constitution of the Executive Council, would never have been abandoned by the Tokio Government.

The Japanese delegates would not have run the risk of losing this position by adopting the course pursued by the Italians.
The cases were different.

No matter what action was taken by Italy she would have continued to be a Great Power in any organization of the world based on a classification of the nations.

If she did not enter the League under the German Treaty, she certainly would later and would undoubtedly hold an influential position in the organization whether her delegates signed the Covenant or accepted it in another treaty or by adherence.

It was not so with Japan.