Report Hirohito May Abdicate Fears Summons as War Crimes Witness By United Press A source close to the Japanese Foreign Office said yesterday that there is a possibility of Emperor Hirohito abdicating in the near future in connection with the forthcoming war crimes trials. This source said the Japanese Government apparently considers it inevitable that Hirohito will be called as a witness during the trial of former Premier Hideki Tojo and 27 other former military and political figures. The trial has been set to begin June 3. If the emperor has to appear personally in court as a witness, the government was said to feel that it would place him in an extremely awkward position in the eyes of the Japanese public.