"Q. General, I understood you to say yesterday that RIBBENTROP was very definite in stating that it might become necessary to seek a non-aggression pact with Russia at the time of this party. "A. Yes, he did say non-aggression pact." * * * A (2) SHIRATORI was sent to Rome as Ambassador in the hope that he would succeed in concluding an Italian-Japanese- German military alliance. On 7 January 1939 SHIRATORI con¬ferred with Count CIAN0 and MUSSOLINI regarding the proposed pact and expressed himself as greatly in favor of the alliance which he regarded as a weapon to force Great Britain to concede "the many things she owes to us all.,f Proof 15.25 hours 9*45 hours (a) Document 4047, -ftem 24, (Exhibit No "Telegram (Secret Cipher Process) "Tokyo, 8 September 1939 Arrival " —- No. 417 of 8 September *) RAM Reference No. 261 of 22 August. *) For the State Secretary. Secret. "At the . reception yesterday of the Foreign Minister ABE, I gave my personal opinion to the General, whom I know well, that the continued labors of Ambassador OSHIMA. to foster German-Japanese friendship would certainly be very valuable; he had the full confidence of the German Government. Tine Foreign Minister declared he would examine the question favorably. The Army, on which I