There appears to have been an attempt by the EEC Commission 'Information Service' and its supporters, to misrepresent the facts regarding international economic relationships between EEC members and Japan. The methods used are reminiscent of those used triumphantly in Britain to persuade that country to join the EEC and now to obscure the adverse economic effects of membership. Therefore the Commission and its Information Service must be regarded only as an ambitious and as yet unrivalled 'pressure group' and not as a 'responsible government'. Some understanding of this situation can be obtained through the 'founding paradox'of the EEC - that whilst it purports to promote the 'liberal' ideals of an open world economy, in the service of free trade and peace, its very progress depends on a process of 'corporatist' power. Hope of reform lies in the emergence of strong 'liberal' opposition to the EEC from within member countries, and in countering that opposition the Commission seems to have chosen an unwelcome role for Japan.