what the communication from Japan stated relative to sending this Commission. As I remember it, the main reason given was that there would be danger of a leak if communications were continued and it would be best to send spokesmen* Of course, later, I heard rumors, which I can not say are either right or wrong, but which you may also have heard, so that I wish to pass them on to you. They were in effect that this Commission had come to make very clear to SHIBATORI and myself the Japanese Govern¬ment fs changed stand upon the Tripartite Pact. Of course, they did not say that this was the reason in talking to me, but I repeat I have heard rumors to this effect. WQ. General, tell us a little bit more about how and where you heard those rumors, where they came from? "A. I heard of these matters from some of my subordinates who had probably received the rumor in the mails from Japan - from their friends in the Foreign Office, or their family, or something - I do not know exactly from whom. "Q. Why do you call them rumors if they emanated from Japan? 11 A. There was nothing on the surface and nothing official, so that they would have to be called rumors. MQ. You call them rumors then because you were not officially told of these things?