21 Feb. 1946 has nothing to do with it. A. That is correct. Further, he did speak to me at another time about the possibility of going to war against Russia, although this is not within the provisions of the pact. Q. When was this? A. I do not recall the date exactly, but it was after Russia was in the war. 3 Q. Now, when you were discussing with Ribbentrop the question of a sudden attack upon Singapore by Japan, did not you also discuss with him the question of the Philippines and Manila? A. We did not speak of the Philippines at the time, but I do recall Ribbentrop once stating that should the Philippines be taken American prestige would drop immeasurably. Q. And on that occasion did not you suggest to Ribbentrop that Japan could take the Philippines and the United States would not be able to do anything about it? A. No. Q. You have constantly in our conversations referred to your treaty obligations with Germany. What treaty obligations could you possibly have had prior to an attack upon one of the three signatories to the treaty? A. None. Q. Then why have you so often in your answers to my questions indicated your justification for these military discussions to be your probable obligations under the treaty? A. I feel that Germany felt that it was necessary to sound me out to see whether Japan would actually abide by her obligations. Q. It seems to me that you attempt to justify all of your war planning by the suggestion of probable treaty obligations. The only justification that you have offered for such planning seems to be possible obligations under the Tripartite Pact. Now, since you have been doing that, I ask you, did Japan enter into this treaty so that your country would be able to offer some sort of excuse to the world, legitimate or otherwise, for its war planning and its then foreign policy? A. That is not so. Japan entered into the Tripartite Pact, as she has stated, in order to keep the European War from spreading any further. Q. You said you had a meeting with Hitler in May or June 1941. You mentioned this yesterday, and at that time Hitler asked you to bring him a map of Singapore. Can you fix the date of that meeting a little more definitely than May or June 1941? A. As I have met Hitler about three times, as I told you, I cannot be sure of which occasion it was that I took him this map. Q. At this particular time you have two meetings, one at which Hitler asked you to obtain the map, and the second when you brought the map to him? A. No, the request for the map came through the German Foreign Office and it was requested that if I had one I bring it to the next meeting. Q. Can you tell us what the occasion of this meeting with Hitler was other than to deliver a map? 3 This would be after June 22, 1941 which was when Russia was invaded by Germany. 123