When the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact was concluded on August 23, Hiranuma, who had been seeking an alliance with Germany with the goal of preventing communism, was shocked and resigned from the Prime Minister's position, leaving the following words of nonsense, 'the whole of Europe is messed up beyond all recognition.'
8月23日に独ソ不可侵条約が締結されると、防共を目的としたドイツとの同盟を模索していた平沼は衝撃を受け、「欧州の天地は複雑怪奇」という迷言を残して内閣総辞職した。