<P> On learning of German--Japanese negotiations, Italy also began to take an interest in forming an alliance with Japan . Italy had hoped that due to Japan's long - term close relations with Britain, that an Italo - Japanese alliance could pressure Britain into adopting a more accommodating stance towards Italy in the Mediterranean . In the summer of 1936, Italian Foreign Minister Ciano informed Japanese Ambassador to Italy, Sugimura Yotaro, "I have heard that a Japanese - German agreement concerning the Soviet Union has been reached, and I think it would be natural for a similar agreement to be made between Italy and Japan". Initially Japan's attitude towards Italy's proposal was generally dismissive, viewing a German--Japanese alliance against the Soviet Union as imperative while regarding an Italo - Japanese alliance as secondary, as Japan anticipated that an Italo - Japanese alliance would antagonize Britain that had condemned Italy's invasion of Ethiopia . This attitude by Japan towards Italy altered in 1937 after the League of Nations condemned Japan for aggression in China and faced international isolation, while Italy remained favourable to Japan . As a result of Italy's support for Japan against international condemnation, Japan took a more positive attitude towards Italy and offered proposals for a non-aggression or neutrality pact with Italy . </P> <P> The "Axis powers" formally took the name after the Tripartite Pact was signed by Germany, Italy, and Japan on 27 September 1940, in Berlin . The pact was subsequently joined by Hungary (20 November 1940), Romania (23 November 1940), Slovakia (24 November 1940), and Bulgaria (1 March 1941). </P> <P> The Axis powers' primary goal was territorial expansion at the expense of their neighbors . In ideological terms, the Axis described their goals as breaking the hegemony of the plutocratic Western powers and defending civilization from communism . The Axis championed a number of variants on fascism, militarism, and autarky . </P> <P> The Axis population in 1938 was 258.9 million, while the Allied population (excluding the Soviet Union and the United States, which later joined the Allies) was 689.7 million . Thus the Allied powers outnumbered the Axis powers by 2.7 to 1 . The leading Axis states had the following domestic populations: Germany 75.5 million (including 6.8 million from recently annexed Austria), Japan 71.9 million (excluding its colonies), and Italy 43.4 million (excluding its colonies). The United Kingdom (excluding its colonies) had a population of 47.5 million and France (excluding its colonies) 42 million . </P>

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