19 Feb. 1946 Q. As a matter of fact, General, this subject of Singapore had been discussed with you by Ribbentrop even before MATSUOKA made that trip to Germany, had it not? A. There was no discussion, but he did bring up the matter. I had intended to speak to you about that. Q. I want you to speak to me about that fully a little later, but right now I want to direct your attention to this, that inasmuch as the subject of Singapore had been mentioned to you by Ribbentrop before MATSUOKA ever made this trip, it is difficult for me to understand how the question would be dropped and no further discussion on it after the overall Singapore subject had been mentioned in this meeting with Hitler. It seems to me that since they talked to you about it, since it was mentioned to Hitler, that it must have been mentioned again at some subsequent meetings. Q. I can only say that it was not within the sphere of our duty or right to discuss any specific matters concerning Singapore, as this was strictly up to the Military. At this time, May 1941, or around there, I do not believe that war plans had ever been drawn up in Tokyo, and even if there had been we would not have known about it. If there were to be such talks these are not things that would be discussed by the Foreign Office, but by the Military. Q. Who were the members of the staff that accompanied MATSUOKA? A. The senior member was Sakamoto, Tamao, a section head in the Foreign Office. In addition there was a man named Kase, Shunichi, from the Foreign Office, and another named Hogen. The Army Aide was Lt. Col. Nagai, and as I told you the other day I do not recall the name of the Navy man. There are two Kase, Shunichi, in the Foreign Office. This Kase is the one who was the Japanese Minister to Switzerland. This statement that I am writing up here is something that I would like to have included in the record, particularly, as it is something that concerns not myself alone, but another individual, MATSUOKA. (Statement is hereto attached.) (Interrogation was suspended while witness wrote statement, which was later translated by Interpreter.) Q. Were any of the men whose names you have given us as members of the staff that accompanied MATSUOKA to Berlin on this trip present at this first meeting with Hitler about which we have been talking this afternoon? A. No. Q. You stated that at this meeting with Hitler, among other things that the matter of whether Japan would follow the Three Power Pact was discussed. What did you mean by that? A. It was naturally of interest to Germany at this time as to whether Japan would abide by the pact or not, and it is my recollection that a general exchange of assurances on this matter was made, but that it all. Q. But what did they mean in this meeting when they discussed the question of whether the pact would be followed; just what does it mean, would the pact be followed? A. I do not recall exactly what was said. It is of interest to the parties in a treaty of this sort to know whether the other member is going to follow through with it, and that is about all. Q. Tell us how the trip of MATSUOKA to Germany came about and by that I want to know this - was this trip initiated by MATSUOKA or was it initiated by someone in Germany, and what were the circumstances under which it came about? A. I think this was MATSUOKA’s own idea. 110