7 March 1946 Q. According to this document from which I read to you yesterday the same being the telegram from Ribbentrop, referring to the conference with you on the 23d of February 1941, you handed your credentials to the Fuehrer on the 28th of February. Will you tell us of the discussions that you had with Hitler upon the occasion you handed to him your credentials. A. To the best of my recollection, nothing particularly grave came up. It was along the lines of what I have already told you, and I probably made reassurances to him that the Tripartite Pact would be followed. Q. General, I have in my hands a copy of a document that is described as Basic Order No. 24, issued from the Fuehrer’s Headquarters on March 5, 1941, “regarding collaboration with Japan.” This document was issued after the conference of February 23, 1941, that you had with Ribbentrop, and after the conference of February 28, 1941, that you had with Hitler. In this document the following words appear: “It must be the aim of the collaboration based on the Three Power Pact to induce Japan as soon as possible to take active measures in the Far East. Strong British forces will thereby be tied down and the center of gravity of the interests of the United States of America will be diverted to the Pacific. The sooner it intervenes the greater will be the prospects of success for Japan in view of the still undeveloped un-preparedness for war on the part of its adversaries.” Now, will you tell me what there is in the Tripartite Pact that would in any way justify Japan taking active measures in the Far East? A. There is nothing in the pact. Q. Why would Hitler issue such an order and base the collaboration upon the pact unless there was either something in the pact or an understanding between Japan and Germany? A. I do not know why he said so. Maybe he intended to invoke the statement in the preamble about the building of a new order in East Asia. I do not know. Q. Why should this Basic Order suggest that the sooner Japan intervenes the greater will be the prospects for the success of Japan. What did he have in mind? A. I have no idea why he said such a thing. Q. In order for collaboration to exist it would take two parties at least. It would be necessary for Japan to agree to the collaboration or it just could not be. At the time you had your discussions with Ribbentrop and Hitler that I referred to, or at any other time, did they make known to you the fact that this Basic Order on collaboration between Germany and Japan was going to be issued? A. No. This is the first time I have heard it. Q. Sometime ago when we were talking about the Commission that was set up under the Tripartite Pact, I believe you indicated that you were the head of the Overall Commission. Am I correct in that? A. Yes. Q. And when did you become the head of that Overall Commission? A. Upon my taking the position as Ambassador and arriving at my post. Q. In this Basic Order of collaboration these words appear -“the working out of the details is the responsibility of the Main Commission with the cooperation of the Armed forces High Command.” Did Hitler or anyone else discuss that with you as the head of the Overall Commission before this 195