19 FEB. 1946 Date and Time: 19 February 1946, 1345-1630 hours Place: Sugamo Prison, Tokyo, Japan Present: General Hiroshi OSHIMA G. Osmond Hyde, Interrogator Lt. Comdr. F.B. Huggins, U.S.N.R., Interpreter Miss Lucille G. Brunner, Stenographer. Questions by: Mr. Hyde. OATH OF INTERPRETER Mr. Hyde: “Lt. Comdr. Huggins, the Interpreter, having been duly sworn on previous interrogations of General OSHIMA, now continues to interpret from English to Japanese and from Japanese into English, as required in this proceeding. Q. General, yesterday I suggested that you give some thought to the reasons for MATSUOKA’s trip to Berlin in April 1941, to which you referred. I suggested to you that it is difficult for me to understand why under the then serious conditions confronting both Japan and Germany the Foreign Minister would see fit to travel all the way from Tokyo to Berlin for the sole purpose of holding a get-acquainted visit with Ribbentrop. I urged you to give further thought to your answer and I am wondering if today you would desire to add anything to what you said yesterday. A. I am trying to tell you everything I know in a veracious manner. As far as MATSUOKA’s visit is concerned, it is my belief that he did not come to Berlin to carry on any special negotiations with the German Government. I quite understand how it seems strange to you, and the fact that you seem to doubt my statements is in a sense only natural. I repeat, none the less, that to the best of my knowledge MATSUOKA’s visit did not result in any promises or secret treaties. Q. Did it result in a formulation of any plans with respect to the future? A. To the best of my knowledge none. I would like to have you question the Army and Navy Ministers of the period. I believe they would substantiate my statements. Q. I am hoping that you will see fit to make a full disclosure of everything you know about this because under the circumstances it would appear an advisable thing to do. I want to give you every opportunity to make every explanation of these things and to tell us of others who may have been involved in the formulation of any plans. I am mindful of the fact that you were Ambassador and that 105