13 Feb. 1946 and that you left Germany for Japan without a reply having been received by you to that telegram. I just want to be fair about this and let you know about the information I have received. A. I did receive permission from my Government to return, however. There may be some mistakes because of my memory being off, but on the whole I believe that what I have told you is entirely correct. Q. Now, General, in our discussions you have told us about your trip to Italy that you made at the request of Ribbentrop and with the approval of your own Government to discuss with the Italian authorities the matter of Italy joining with Germany and Japan in the proposed Tripartite Pact. Now, I would like you to tell us the details of the conversations that you had in Italy, with whom you spoke and what reasons were advanced by the Italian authorities for not indicating a willingness to join with Germany and Japan at the time you were there. A. As I have already recounted to you when Germany approached Italy originally the Italians stated that they were in accord with the overall plan, but that their time for joining was not yet ripe. I also told you how Ribbentrop asked me to go to Italy to urge them further and also I told you how I received the permission of my Government to do so, as there was no bonafide Ambassador from Japan in Italy at the time. In any case I proceeded to Rome and met Mussolini and Ciano, at the Palazzo Venetia and spoke to them saying that Japan also wished Italy to join in this pact. Mussolini answered that while he was entirely in accord with its provisions the time was not yet opportune for Italy to join in, as he felt that the people of Italy would have to be behind such a treaty - that is to say, feel that it was profitable. Mussolini further said that he was now investigating how the people would feel about it and that as soon as he felt the moment was ripe he would join in. I could not then say much more and the matter was left at this. Q. General, do you know or have any information regarding any conversations between the Italian authorities and Ribbentrop on the subject of such a pact subsequent to your visit there and before SHIRATORI went down? A. Yes, definitely. Q. Do you know what was said in those conversations? A. I misunderstood your question - I thought you meant before I had gone to Italy. After my visit and before SHIRATORI arrived I do not believe that Germany and Italy had any talks on this matter. In any case Germany never told me that there had been any such talks. Q. In response to my questions you indicated that you probably know of some conversations that took place between the Italian authorities and Ribbentrop or his representatives before you went down to Italy. Tell us about those conversations. A. Those were the talks in which Italy stated that she was not yet ready to join and which resulted in Ribbentrop asking me to work on the matter. Q. Now, General, if my memory is correct, it was sometime in January of 1939, that Italy informed Ribbentrop that they were ready to join in the proposed pact. A. That is correct. Sometime around the beginning of January. Q. Now in May 1939, which is about a little over three months following these conversations, Italy and Germany joined in the pact that you referred to yesterday. That is correct, is it not? A. That is correct, in May. 68