26 Feb. 1946 Q. Do you know German State Secretary Von Weizsaecker? A. Yes. Q. While MATSUOKA was in Germany on this trip we have been talking about, he talked with State Secretary Von Weizsaecker, did he not? A. He might have spoken with him at a social gathering or some conference, but I do not believe the Japanese Foreign Minister would deal directly with a State Secretary. Q. You do know, do you not, that MATSUOKA asked Von Weizsaecker a question regarding the German-Russian relations? A. I have not heard of it; in fact, I have not heard that they had a meeting. Q. This was not necessarily a meeting, but Hitler and Ribbentrop evidently never made known to MATSUOKA the fact that Germany contemplated attacking Russia, but I have information to the effect that MATSUOKA then asked Von Weizsaecker about the relations and from him, that is, from Von Weizsaecker, MATSUOKA obtained information that led him to believe that war between Germany and Russia was imminent. Do you know anything about that? A. I do not believe that MATSUOKA thought war would be imminent. In the first place I cannot see how in a country like Germany if Hitler and Ribbentrop had not spoken about it, how a man in Von Weizsaecker’s position could possibly pass on such information. I believe I told you this yesterday, but both MATSUOKA and I felt that perhaps Germany would attack Russia as soon as she had cleared up the Western Front. Q. General, you indicated a while ago that around April 1941, when MATSUOKA was there, the negotiations with Russia relative to the proposed entry of Russia into the Tripartite Pact had not progressed very well. Had you had any recent conversations with Ribbentrop on the failure of that proposal immediately before MATSUOKA arrived in Berlin? A. I believe I recounted to you yesterday how I had met Ribbentrop twice, once in February, and again in March 1941, and at these meetings he had declared that negotiations were proceeding and that by the time MATSUOKA arrived something concrete should have been decided upon. The only thing I did not tell you yesterday was that Ribbentrop said Schulenburg, the German Ambassador to Moscow, was carrying on these talks. Q. General, other than what you have indicated to us regarding the circumstances and conditions that would indicate that war between Germany and Russia might be imminent, did you have any information from German officials that would indicate to you that such a conflict might break out reasonably soon after MATSUOKA had been there? A. I have written down here in my notes a good many things pertaining to this subject, so I feel that it would be easier for you to get the full picture if I recounted them all today rather than answer this question briefly at this moment. Which do you desire I do? Q. Will the matters you have in mind to relate and reply to the question I have just asked? A. Yes. Q. Then proceed with the way you want to relate it. A. As the first step in my recital: MATSUOKA returned to Moscow and carried on negotiations relative to binding a Non-Aggression Pact with Russia. Either one day or perhaps two before leaving 145