13VJDay Gabriel Heater

And now, Gabriel he is. Good evening, everyone. If you hear nothing by midnight, Washington time tonight, you'll hear nothing official until after 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. There's a feeling in Washington, Japan's delay indicates a dramatic disagreement inside her own government.

That may delay a final reply for several days. Even civil war in Japan isn't ruled out as a possibility now. There are people know nothing even now regarding their surrender offer. Their latest propaganda line talks of more war and the likelihood of American invasion.

And the war is on very much on. There's no evidence to show that the people are being prepared for surrender. We know tonight they lied when they said they were delayed by the fact that our counter-proposal only arrived in Tokyo early today.

Swiss authorities say they had the dept acknowledgment 24 hours before that. Their news reports revealed several conferences between Togo as the emperor. So he and other army leaders may be unwilling to go along in any surrender arrangement.

The Swiss foreign office has made arrangements to remain on duty all night and night in anticipation of some reply. If it comes, will it be a final reply or another counter-alpha? Or will it reveal some dramatic surprise inside Japan?

The emperor's abdication perhaps to avoid the personal humiliation of surrender. For the reply reveal a new government in Japan, a government whose purpose would be more delay. You remember all the changes before Pearl Harbor.

China's ambassador seems confident of big news soon. He ought to know how the depth of mind would work under these circumstances. He's a well-informed man. I believe he knows. At least he has every right to know what to expect.