19 Feb. 1946 you had others over you in Tokyo, from whom you took orders, and that you were discharging your duties. I just don’t want you to hold back anything. It would be advisable under the circumstances, I should think, not to. I just want to be sure you have told us everything you can or want to tell us about this matter. A. I can definitely state that in so far as I know no agreements on the joint operations or matters of this type were discussed by the two Foreign Ministers. Q. When you use that word “agreements”, are you limiting yourself to something in writing or do you include understandings that have been arrived at that were not reduced to writing? A. In saying that there were no agreements I include verbal agreements. In Japan, the Foreign Minister cannot go ahead on his own and make any agreements concerning military operations. Q. Is there any reason why under the circumstances the Foreign Minister could not discuss with Ribbentrop, Hitler, and other German leaders proposed plans for the future with the understanding that he was not then committing the Japanese Government, but rather subject to his ability to obtain the approval of these plans after he returned to Tokyo? A. I do not believe he did. There are a great many rumors flying about in this connection and I would like to speak to you about them. Q. Proceed. A. When I spoke to you yesterday I told you of how I was present at the initial meeting between Ribbentrop and MATSUOKA. I wish to add today, as it does not seem to be in the record, although I was under the impression that it was, that I was also present at the initial meeting between Hitler and MATSUOKA. Q. How many meetings did MATSUOKA have with Hitler and how many meetings did MATSUOKA have with Ribbentrop? A. With Ribbentrop, I believe, I told you yesterday, MATSUOKA met three or four times. I believe he met Hitler once more after the initial meeting, but this, I think, was a reception. Q. Were you present at any of the meetings between MATSUOKA and Ribbentrop that took place after their first meeting? A. No. Q. Do you have any information regarding what MATSUOKA and Ribbentrop talked about at those meetings? A. I never heard anything from Ribbentrop, but MATSUOKA did tell me that he had spoken to the German Foreign Minister about this or that matter. Q. What I want to know is what were those matters referred to by you as this or that? A. As your questions were interjected as I was about to recite some of the rumors connected with this meeting, I believe that if I went on at this point it might clear up some of this. Q. You may proceed. A. In the first place, I recall that at the initial meeting with Ribbentrop He, the German Foreign Minister, was called away very shortly after we met to attend an important meeting with Hitler, so that, to the best of my remembrance, our meeting did not last for long. Although I have a bit more to 106