13 Feb. 1946 A. Yes, that is true. However, newspaper stories to the effect that he had anything whatsoever to do with the actual drawing up or consummating of the pact are lies. Q. General, I want you now to tell us, as best you can remember, everything that you know of, that SHIRATORI had to do with the proposed Anti-Comintern Pact. A. SHIRATORI had nothing whatsoever to do with the actual negotiations. I simply told him that such a pact was being negotiated, but as far as his lending a hand or taking an active part, he remained entirely out of the picture. Q. General, you have indicated to us that you had some conversations with him relative to this pact on occasions when he came to Berlin from Sweden. Will you tell us about those conversations? A. I told him nothing beyond the fact that we were carrying out negotiations of this nature. Q. Well, what did he tell you? A. If you mean, did he approve or disapprove, he did approve. Q. Did he give you any encouragement in the negotiations; did he give you any suggestions? A. Nothing at all. Newspapers seem to think that he did, but this is untrue. Q. Well, why did you talk to him about it? A. He is a man that has parallel ideas to mine in matters of this sort and so I spoke to him as a friend, but as for asking him to lend a hand, it would be impossible for him to operate in any case, and secondly, I never contemplated such an idea. Please ask SHIRATORI. Q. But, since he was your friend, and since he had parallel ideas, I would like to know just what you said to each other when you talked this matter over as friends. A. Nothing beyond the fact that the treaty would be negotiated and the draft had been drawn up. SHIRATORI first came to Berlin in May 1936, and I believe only about twice after that. Q. General, yesterday, at the time we concluded we had arrived at the point in our story when you were back in Japan and were no longer Ambassador to Germany. Now, will you pick up your story from there and tell us what happened after that. A. After I returned to Japan in December 1939, I had no occupation and led an inactive life until I was named Ambassador in 1940 - as a reserve officer I had no connection whatsoever with the Army either. Q. General, can you tell us when in 1940, you were again named Ambassador to Germany? A. It was in the beginning of December 1940, and around the end of January 1941, I left Japan for Germany, and I believe that it was the 16th of February 1941, that I arrived in Berlin, although I am not absolutely certain of this date. Q. During that period of time that you were out of the public service and were in Japan, did you take any part in the affairs of the Japanese-German Society in this country? A. I was asked to join many associations, but I did not enter any of them. My connection with the German-Japanese Society was as before and as explained, this was an extremely inactive group, which met socially perhaps once a year and that was all. Q. During this same period of time, did you write any articles for newspapers or magazines or other 72