The TFArchive site has posted an interview with George Dunsany, a Hasbro R&D VP who was one of the people responsible for getting Diaclone and Microchange imported as "Transformers".

One note: Diaclone DID have a vague conflict between the alien Waruders* and the Diaclone robots. However, as Dunsany said later, there was no TV show to advertise them. I gather there were 2 Diaclone manga made - one being a comedy(!?)