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that I could and I've helped him. It's going to be a great book.” Then I said, “We've also published another book this year that might interest you called The Broken Seal, which is by a man named Ferago. It's the story about how we broke the Japanese wartime naval code.” In the inscrutable Japanese way--it's so hard to know what these people mean-- the General took my arm and announced, “Mr. Cerf, Ferago is full of shit.” Well, I let out a tremendous bellow of laughter, and John Rich, the NBC man who was the host, came running over to see what I was laughing at. I told him and of course he howled too. The General looked quite puzzled. He said, “What's so funny?" We said, “The use of that vulgar word, which we didn't think Japanese gentlemen threw around.” He said, “Would you like to know what it is in Japanese?”

This is another question--maybe it isn't part, but I do think it's part of the memoir--did you find any difficulty liking the Japanese after they had been such bitter enemies of your generation really?

Not at all. The Japanese people are very charming to meet. In fact, they're so charming that they can't bear to hurt your feelings. When you order something from the Japanese, although they know that they are never going to be able to deliver it, they will accept the order and promise delivery because they don't want to make you feel bad. Then