Page:Netaji Papers MEA-TOK-551-6-70 (Correspondence related to Justice G. D. Khosla Commission).pdf/4

 I called on Mr. Fukada, Chief of the 3outh West Asia Division of the Gaimusho on 26.2.71 to apprise him of the forthcoming visit of the Netaji Inquiry Commission (1970). I also told Mr. Fukada that we propose& give advance publicity to the forthcoming visit of the Commission as the inquiry was to be opened to the public and also it would enable any one wishing to give evidence to come forward and give his evidence before the Commission. While Mr. Fukada saw no objection to the visit of the Commission and its recording all evidence he hoped that the findings of this Commission would be final as there had already been an earlier Commission for the same purpose 15 years ago. While saying that the 3aimusho would give all their cooperation and assistance to the Commission he was not sure whether too much press publicity in advance would be a good thing. He said that while all Japanese believed that Netaji was killed in an accident in Formosa in 1945 and there would be no "genuine" evidence to tne contrary there would always be the possibility of some irresponsible elements coming forward to give evidence to the contrary just for purposes of creating confusion and complications. In this respect he cited that he had heard that some persons in India had been claiming that they met Netaji Much after the alleged aircraft accident in 1945. At the same time Mr. Fukada appreciated the necessity of giving advance press publicity to the visit of the Commission so that there may not be any allegations later that the visit of the Commission was not sufficiently known to the people and consequently did not afford an opportunity to all having some information relating to the subject of the inquiry to come forward and give their evidence. He, therefore, suggested that he would first consult. the Information Division in the God musho and then let me know how we should go about the task of giving advance publicity to the visit of the Commission. For the time being he requested that the Embassy should not give anything about it in the press till we heard from the Gaimusho I handed over a Note Verbale to Mr. Fukade relating to the visit of the Commission and a copy of the same