(9) Notwithstanding the temporary setback to the con¬clusion of a Japanese-German-Italian military alliance, efforts were continued by Germany to develop closer German-Japanese relations, RIBBENTROP pointed out to Ambassador OSHIMA that Japan's fate was, as theretofore, linked with Germany's fate, and that the non-aggression pact with Russia was in the in¬terest of Japan as well as Germany. He represented that Germany was quite capable and ready to mediate for a settle¬ment between Japan and Russia upon the accomplishment of which Japan would be free to extend her power in East Asia toward the south in which direction her vital interests lie, to all of which Ambassador OSHIMA agreed. It was stated that SHIRATORI would soon return from his post as Ambassador to Italy to Tokyo where he would work for closer cooperation between Germany and Italy. RIBBENTROP also directed that a request be made to retire General OSHIMA as Ambassador to Germany, pointing out that General OSHIMA still enjoyed the complete confidence of the Fuehrer and the German Army. General OSHIMA resigned as Ambassador, and on his return to Japan, RIBBENTROP advised the German Ambassador to Japan that General OSHIMA on his return would work further for German-Japanese friendship and requested that OSHIMA be allowed to transmit in code telegrams to the Reich Foreign Minister personally and to forward letters addressed to the Reich Foreign Minister unopened. Proof (a)Document 4034A, (Exhibit No. 507): "9 September 1939 "Telegram in cipher (Secret Cipher Process) "Diplogerma Tokyo, No. 335 "Exclusively for the Ambassador personally. "These days I had a confidential, detailed discussion with Ambassador OSHIMA regarding the future development of German-Japanese relations. On that occasion I portrayed our standpoint and our aims in the following sense: "Japan's fate is, as ever, linked with Germany's fate. If Germany were defeated in this war, an extensive world coalition of Western democracies would quickly form itself which would oppose any expansion of Japan