Interrogation of OSHIMA., Hiroshi, 4 February 1946, pages 43, 44, and 45s * * * “Q. You may now proceed with your story regarding the Tri-Party Pact® "A* I shall give you the rough overall picture of how this pact came about* Later, if you wish to question me on specific details, please do so* To start with, I would like to tell you that, as you know, in July 1937, the China incident started* Following this, at one time, you may not be aware, that Japan attempted to use Germany in order to bring this incident to a close* At the time I received orders from the General Staff in Tokyo to try and approach German military leaders and have them in turn approach the German military advisors of Chiang Kai-shek with a view to bringing to a close an incident which was rapidly taking on gargantuan proportions and leading only to a stale-mate* As an initial step, I wish to relate how, I believe it was in January 1938, although I am not certain of the date - only that it was early in January, I called upon RIBEENTROP at his villa in Sonnenburg, to pay my New Year's respects, and at the time he asked me if there was not some way in which Germany and Japan might be brought closer together by means of a treaty or otherwise* I