My telegram 71.²I have seen Acting Secretary of State. I urged speedy priority in case of badly needed supplies. He said he would do what he could.

He understood President would write letter soon. He said there was no truth in rumour about Secretary of State.

I said we feared Gray's reports were prejudiced.

He said he read them all. They were fair and unbiased, but reflect feeling of man who deplores our attitude in this conflict and any American in post would have same feeling.

I asked if statement such as Senator Norris's³ should not be censored.

He asked me to imagine the uproar there would be if they tried to censor any members of Congress. I said I had heard rumour that Offices of Facts and Figures and Co-ordination of Information were compiling reports that might be prejudicial to us.⁴

He was familiar with work of both agencies and I could discount such rumours.

I said I would like to see Chiefs of these agencies.

He encouraged this and said that he would telephone them. He was very cordial.