18 Feb. 1946 Q. Let me ask you this. Did MATSUOKA give you any instructions that may have emanated from the War Department of the Military? A. No. Q. Did MATSUOKA give you any instructions from him as Foreign Minister relative to what you were to do regarding the Tripartite Pact? A. I asked MATSUOKA if he had any instructions for me and he stated he did not so that I went to Germany without any specific instructions. Q. Other than the warning from the Navy of their inability to then wage war on the United States, to which you referred a few minutes ago? A. That and the point that Japan had no wish to participate in the war unless Germany had actually been attacked. Q. You may proceed. A. Point number one that comes up now in so far as important events go was MATSUOKA’s proposed trip to Germany. Q. What date? A. MATSUOKA arrived in Berlin sometime around the very beginning of April 1941, having come via Russia. Of course, he met Hitler, but his talks were mainly with Ribbentrop. How many times they met I am not absolutely sure, but I think it was not over three or four times. I was at the first meeting with Ribbentrop, but did not attend thereafter. This was partly based on the German desire to have only the two men present at these meetings, so that they might further their personal relationship and speak on matters close to their respective hearts. MATSUOKA did speak to me later about his meetings with Ribbentrop, but in the main he told me nothing of any promises that he had made or of specific details in regard to one thing or another. Prior to his return he told me that he wished to stop over in Moscow on his way back and speak with the Russians regarding the Non-Aggression Pact - this I remember. Q. On his way to Germany he did not go to Moscow, did he? A. MATSUOKA came through Moscow on his way to Berlin and then went down to Italy, returned to Berlin and then went back to Japan via Moscow. Q. Now, on MATSUOKA’s way from Tokyo to Berlin, did he confer with any of the Russian Government representatives in Moscow? A. I believe he did speak with Russian officials, but to what degree the talks progressed, or who he met with, I do not know. Q. I was under the impression that MATSUOKA wanted to have such conversations with the officials in Moscow before he proceeded on to Berlin; that he inquired of the German Government through you, as Ambassador, to find out if it would be agreeable for them to have such discussions, and that he was informed through your office in Berlin that the German Government did not desire him to have such conversations. Now, am I correct in that? A. That is not true. Q. You may pick up your story at the point where I interrupted you. 99