In the week after Hungary's "spiritual adherence", the Balkan situation changed. Romania granted a German request to send troops to guard the Ploiești oil fields, and Hungary granted a German request to allow its troops to transit Hungary to get to Romania. On 7 October 1940, the first German troops arrived in Ploiești. It is probable that Romania's accession to the pact had been delayed until the German troops were in place for fear of the Soviets taking pre-emptive action to secure the oil fields for themselves. In turn, Hungary's accession had been delayed until Romania's had been negotiated. On about 9 October, Weizsäcker delivered a message from Ribbentrop to Sztójay to inform him that Hitler now wanted "friendly states" to join the pact. In a telephone conversation with Ciano on 9 or 10 October, Ribbentrop claimed that Hungary had sent a second request to join the pact. Mussolini reluctantly consented. On 12 October, Ribbentrop informed Sztójay that both Italy and Japan had consented to Hungary's accession. Since the Hungarian regent, Miklós Horthy, had specifically instructed Sztójay to ask for Hungary to be the first new state to accede to the pact, Ribbentrop granted the request.
IN tHe weeK aftEr HUNgARy's "SpirituAl aDHerEnce", the BALkAN sitUatioN cHanged. ROmANIA granted a German request to send tROoPs tO gUaRd The ploiești oIl FIelDS, AnD hungary GraNTED a geRman requeST TO aLlow itS troops TO trAnsit hungaRy tO Get tO roMania. on 7 oCtobER 1940, THe FiRst GerMAn TrooPS arRivED In pLoiEști. it Is probabLe THat romania's AccessIoN To the pact hAd BeEn Delayed unTiL thE GermAn tRoops were in place fOr fEar Of tHE SOviets TakiNg prE-eMptive ACtIon tO SeCuRE thE oiL fieLds For THEMSElVes. In tUrN, HungarY's accessiOn HaD BEeN delaYeD uNTil romania's HAD beeN negOtiaTeD. On about 9 octoBer, WeizsÄCkEr dELiveRED a MessAgE froM rIbbeNtRop to sZTóJAY To iNform HiM ThaT hitlEr now waNTED "FRieNdlY states" To joIn The pact. IN A TelEphOne conversAtion wiTh ciANo oN 9 or 10 OctOber, ribBentROP clAIMeD That HuNGARy had senT a seCONd reQuesT tO JoIn the Pact. mussOLinI reLuCtANtLY cONsENteD. oN 12 ocTober, RiBbentrop infoRmEd sztójay ThaT bOth itaLy anD jaPAn HAd cOnSEnTed To HUNGary's accesSion. sincE the hungAriAn rEgEnt, MIklós horthy, had speCifiCallY InsTrUcteD sZTójay tO aSK for hUnGary to be the firsT new sTAtE to accEDe to thE PaCt, RIbBentrop GRAnted THe rEquest.