(b)(2) Document 127QB, (Exhibit No "Berlin, 12 Jan- 1938 Lt. L. Dir. Pol Dig. Pol "Diplogerma HANKOW No. 11 Pass through without secrecy classification.1 Telegram in Ciphers (Secret Cipher Process) ". . . The deviation from the earlier Japanese statements contained in wire No. 13 from Tokyo was also noticed by us. We interpret the statements of HIHOTA as follows: Japanese military circles take again a different stand, while the Foreign Ministry apparently remains at its previous standpoint. Considering the fact that the situation has come to a critical point, we did not consider ourselves justified in accordance with our role as 'letter-carrier1 not to transmit the Japanese statement or to postpone the transmission. I am sure you will have avoided in transmitting statements to the Chinese to give any official or personal interpretation and will surely have spoken in such a manner that there can be no suspicion against us as if we had made ourselves a tool of an unclear or unclean Japanese trick. Tokyo was notified of this (signed) MACKENSEN" (c) Document I269A, (Exhibit No. ):