15 Feb. 1946 Q. Then I suppose that Stahmer was sent here as the personal representative of Ribbentrop to work with Ambassador Ott with a view to bringing the negotiations to a successful conclusion as soon as possible? A. Yes, I suppose so - somewhat in the same way that Kurusu was sent to assist Nomura. Of course, as I told you the other day, I do not positively know whether he came to carry on negotiations immediately or to first look over the situation in Japan. Q. Tell us who instituted the negotiations at the time they were resumed following the appointment of MATSUOKA as Foreign Minister. A. That I do not know. I had heard rumors in Japan to the effect that the Japanese Government had requested him (Stahmer) to come, but after returning to Berlin as Ambassador I heard rumors there that he had been sent to Japan, so which is true I do not know. Of course, I suppose one could look into the matter, but I have had very little time for investigations as I almost immediately found myself here after returning. Q. I was of the opinion that it was likely during the course of your official duties after you were named Ambassador the second time that you might have learned who it was that started the negotiations the second time. I was just wondering if MATSUOKA as Foreign Minister indicated to Ribbentrop as Foreign Minister in Germany that Japan was ready to resume the negotiations or if Ribbentrop tried to revive them again. I thought you might be able to help us on that. A. I do not know and further I believe it is not so important as in a case like this, both sides were willing and the start of negotiations is always preceded by careful feelers on the part of both nations. Q. At the time we recessed yesterday I suggested to you that we would like to have you tell us about the secret memoranda and any secret treaties or other forms of understanding that were entered into by the members of the Tripartite Pact at the time the Tripartite Pact was signed, and I suggested that we would go into that today. I am wondering, General, if, in your narrative recital of events, you intend to cover these secret matters to which I referred. If you are, we probably would save time if we proceed with your narrative. A. I intend to tell you about the treaty and some of its ramifications, so if you wish I shall go on with my story for a time and then you may question me. Q. I would like to have you cover these secret understandings and memoranda agreements that were entered into between the parties to the pact as you proceed with your story. A. Before I go on, there is one point I would like to clear up, which was that you asked me yesterday whether, after my return from Germany, I had any conversations with SHIRATORI. I gather from your questioning that you are interested in knowing whether we discussed anything relative to bringing up negotiations again about the Tripartite Pact. Q. I was interested in anything that might have been said by either of you relative to the pact, not necessarily whether it was to be brought up again, but since you know and I know, it was brought up again, maybe in the course of your conversations he might have said something to you with respect to how it was proceeding or he might have inquired of you as to your advice or suggestions on certain points. I was not concerned with any one phase of it - any phase of it. Q. If you are wondering whether I had any talks with him relative to starting negotiations or anything of the sort I can definitely state that I did not. Of course, the Tripartite Pact did enter into our 89