December 1941

1 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Hainking
#893
"American and British consular officials and offices will not be recognized as having special rights. Their business will be stopped (the sending of code telegrams and the use of short wave radio will be forbidden)." See doc.
1 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#865
"However, to prevent the United States from becoming unduly suspicious we have been advising the press and others that though there are some wide differences between Japan and the United States, the negotiations are continuing." See doc.
1 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
Circular #2436
"When you are faced with the necessity of destroying codes, get in touch with the Naval Attaché's office there and make use of chemicals have on hand for this purpose." See doc.
1 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
Circular #2444
"The four offices in London, Hongkong, Singapore and Manila have been instructed to abandon the use of the code machines and to dispose of them." See doc.
1 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: London
Circular #2443
"Please discontinue the use of your code machine and dispose of it immediately." See doc.
1 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Tokyo
#1225
"He placed the most emphasis on two points, namely, the tone and trend of the Japanese Government's expressions and movements and that of the general public opinion organs; and, the increase in strength of the garrisons in French Indo-China." See doc.
1 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Tokyo
#1226
"The general tone of these reports is that Roosevelt decided to cut his vacation short and rush back to Washington because Hull advised him by telephone that Premier Tojo had made an unusually strong speech, and relayed to him that a Far Eastern crisis may be at hand." See doc.
1 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Tokyo
#1227
"Indications are that the United States desires to continue thenegotiations even if it is necessary to go beyond their stands on theso-called basic principles. However, if we keep quibbling on the criticalpoints, and continue to get stuck in the middle as we have been in the past, it is impossible to expect any further developments." See doc.
1 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Tokyo
#1230
"Basically speaking, however, the United States has been aroused against us by the reports of Premier Tojo's speech to Parliament, and by the speech of Cabinet official Kaya and Suzuki to the Convention of the Imperial Rules Assistance Association." See doc.
1 December 1941 From: Honolulu (Kita)
To: Tokyo
#241
Re your #119*
"Report on ship maneuvers in Pearl Harbor:" See doc.
1 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Panama
#040
"Report passage through the Canal of the U. S. S. MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, WASHINGTON, WASP. " See doc.
1 December 1941 From: Manila
(Nihro)
To: Tokyo
#812
"Ships in port on the 1st." See doc.
2 December 1941 From: Tokyo
(Togo)
To: Washington
December 2, 1941
#867
"Among the telegraphic codes with which your office is equipped burn all but those now used with the machine and one copy each of "O" code (Oite) and abbreviating code (L). (Burn also the various other codes which you have in your custody.)" See doc.
2 December 1941 From: Tokyo
(Togo)
To: Havana
Circular #2445
"With the exception of one copy of the O and L code, you are to burn all telegraph codes (this includes the code books for communication between the three departments and the code books for Army and Navy communication)." See doc.
2 December 1941 From: Bern
(Mitani)
To: Ankara
Tokyo Circular #2447
"Orders have been issued to our diplomatic officials in North America (including Manila), Canada, Panama, Cuba, the South Seas (including Timor), Singora, Chienmai, and to all our officials in British (including our Embassy in London) and Netherlands territory to inform me immediately upon the burning of all their telegraphic codes except one copy of Oite and"L"." See doc.
2 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Singapore
Circular #2450
"We have drawn up the following table for the particular needs of your localities to supplement for the already given list." See doc.
2 December 1941 From: Rio de Janeiro
(Ishii)
To: Santiago
Circular #328
Tokyo
"Additions to the list already sent; please use with others." See doc.
2 December 1941 From: Rio de Janeiro
(Ishii)
To: Santiago
Tokyo Circular #329 (to Rio as Circular #2432, on 29 Nov.)
"The following are added this date to my Circular #2409*, for special use in your area. Please use them together with the others, (after making them up in a table)." See doc.
2 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Tokyo
#1232
"I want you to know that the stand the United States takes is that she opposes aggression in any and all parts of the world." See doc.
2 December 1941 From: Washington
(Nomura)
To: Tokyo
#1234
"At this tense psychological moment in Japanese-American negotiations, the fact that such a strong statement as this has been circulated has given asevere shock to the American Government and people and it is very unfortunateand dangerous." See doc.
2 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Tokyo
#1239
"Expressing his own views for the first time, he briefly stated that the trend of Japanese-American negotiations for the past few days and our rumored increasing of troops in southern French Indo-china had both thrown obstacles in the way of the progress of the negotiations (see special intelligence from Washington)." See doc.
2 December 1941 From: Canton
To: Tokyo
#512
"If hostilities are to begin we here are all prepared." See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#875
"There seem to be rumors to the effect that our military garrisons in French Indo-China are being strengthened. The fact is that recently there has been an unusual amount of activity by the Chinese forces in the vicinity of the Sino-French Indo-China border. In view of this, we have increased our forces in parts of northern French Indo-China." See doc.
2 December 1941 From:
Tokyo (Togo)
To:
Honolulu
#123
"In view of the present situation, the presence in port of warships, airplane carriers, and cruisers is of utmost importance." See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#876
"As you are well aware, during the tenure of the previous cabinet, a meeting between the leaders of the two countries was suggested by us but the proposal failed to materialize." See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#877
"Your message #1225* of course refers to the U. S. proposal of June and our September proposal but it goes without saying that the one we are holding to now is our 20 November proposal, which now supercedes the September proposal." See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Tokyo.
To: Washington.
#878
"Apparently, the United States is making much of the statements issued by our governmental organs, the trend of the public opinion, as well as of our troop movements in the south. They have used these as an excuse to doubt our sincerity in wanting to bring about a successful settlement in the Japanese-U. S. negotiations." See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: (Circular)
Circular #2461
"Please keep the code list (INGO HIKAE)* (including those in connection with broadcasts) until the last moment, and if by any chance you have already destroyed them they will have to be resent to you, so please notify us of this fact immediately:" See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Vancouver
#92
"Please retain the "hidden meaning" codes and the codes to be used in conjunction with radio broadcasts until the last moment. If you have already destroyed them, advise and we will retransmit them." See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Tokyo
#1243
"If we continue to increase our forces in French Indo-China, it is expected that the United States will close up our Consulates, thereforeconsideration should be given to steps to be taken in connection with the evacuation of the Consuls." See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Tokyo
#1244
"Judging from all indications, we feel that some joint military action between Great Britain and the United States, with or without a declaration of war, is a definite certainty in the event of an occupation of Thailand." See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Tokyo
#1245
"Terasaki now in the midst of intelligence work at a most important time, would like to have him stay over a while and go by the sailing on the 19th." See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Washington (Nomura)
To: Tokyo
#1256.
"If it is really the intention of our government to arrive at a settlement, the explanation you give, I am afraid, would neither satisfy them nor prevent them taking the bold step referred to—even if your reply is made for the mere purpose of keeping the negotiations going." See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Rome
To: Tokyo
#985
"On this day, at 11 o'clock in the morning, I, accompanied by Ando, called on Premier Mussolini, (Foreign Minister Ciano was also present). I described the developments in the Japanese-U. S. negotiations in accordance with the contents of your message #986** to Berlin." See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Bangkok
To: Tokyo
#892
"In order to meet an emergency situation it is most important that we have our currency arrangements for Thailand in readiness." See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Peking
To: Net
Circular #616
"If this war does start, this will be a war which will decide the rise or fall of the Japanese Empire. For this reason it goes without saying, do not have small, or local, insignificant matters, occupy you." See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Honolulu
(Kita)
To: Tokyo
#247
"Ship report:" See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Honolulu
(Kita)
To: Tokyo
#245
"I wish to change my method of communicating by signals to thefollowing:" See doc.
3 December 1941 From: Honolulu
(Kita)
To: Tokyo
#248
"Ship report." See doc.
4 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#881
"Before you burn the codes brought you by KOSAKA, have him teach all your telegraphic staff how to use them. If you have not yet burned the keying described in my Circular #2400 [b], keep it in your custody until the last moment." See doc.
4 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#891
"Re your #1256 [a]. What you say in your telegram is, of course, true, but at present it would be a very delicate matter to give any more explanations than set forth in my #875 [b]." See doc.
4 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Net
Cir #2467
"On the 4th, the Government held a conference for control and liaison and decided on the policy which Manchukuo must follow in case of a sudden change in the International relations." See doc.
4 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Nanking,
Shanghai, Peking,
Hsinking
Circular #2468
"Until a state of war develops between Japan and the Netherlands, the Netherlands Government will be considered a quasi-enemy power." See doc.
4 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Hsinking
#909
"On the fourth, in a joint conference with the Government Control Board, we decided upon steps which we will have Manchukuo take in case the international situation turns critical. Differing from what I said in my #873 [a] our policy was changed as follows:" See doc.
4 December 1941 From: Berlin
To: Tokyo
#1410
"In case of evacuation by the members of our Embassy in London I would like to arrange to have Secretary MATSUI of that office and three others (URABE and KOJIMA and one other) from among the higher officials and two other officials (UEHARA and YUWASAKI) stay here. Please do your best to this end." See doc.
4 December 1941 From: Honolulu
(Kita)
To: Tokio
#249
"On the afternoon of the 3rd one British gunboat entered Honolulu harbor." See doc.
5 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#896
"Will you please have Terasaki, Takagi, Ando, Yamamoto and others leave by plane within the next couple of days." See doc.
5 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Tokyo
#1261
"You explain the matter as if the Chinese have concentrated troops near the border and that there is a fear that they would take aggressive action." See doc.
5 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Tokyo
#1268
"We have completed destruction of codes, but since the U. S.-Japanese negotiations are still continuing I request your approval of our desire to delay for a while yet the destruction of the one code machine." See doc.
5 December 1941 From: Peking
To: Tokyo
Cir #625
"Concurrent with opening war on Britain and America we have considered Holland as a semi-belligerent and have exercised strict surveillance over her consulates and prohibited all communication between them and the enemy countries." See doc.
5 December 1941 From: Peking.
To: Shanghai.
#626
"It is recognized that the treatment accorded to the property and staff of the consulates of Britain, America, and Holland in North China should be, as a matter of policy, comparable to that accorded them in occupied territory." See doc.
5 December 1941 From: Panama
(Akiyama)
To: Tokyo
#367
"Reporting destroying by burning the code books in accordance with instructions." See doc.
5 December 1941 From: Honolulu (Kita)
To: Tokyo
5 December 1941
(PA-K2)
#252
"During Friday morning. the 5th, the three battleships mentioned in my message #239* arrived here. They had been at sea for eight days." See doc.
5 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Singapore
#377
"(Abstract) Wants immediate report on ships in port and movements of capital ships." See doc.
6 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
*897
"What I meant in paragraph 2 of my #867 [b] was that of the two sets of "B" code machines with which your office is equipped, you are to burn one set and for the time being to continue the use of the other." See doc.
6 December 1941 From: Tokyo (Togo)
To: Washington
#899
"The recent occupation of Netherlands Guiana by American troops, or call it what you will-occupation it is, is the first example in the present war of the United States' invading South America. In the light of the Havana agreement, French territory may next be expected to be taken over." See doc.
6 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#901
"This separate message is a very long one. I will send it in fourteen parts and I imagine you will receive it tomorrow." See doc.
6 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#902
"The Fourteen-part Message" See doc.
6 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#904
"There is really no need to tell you this, but in the preparation of the aide memoiré be absolutely sure not to use a typist or any other person." See doc.
6 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Berlin
#1003
"From the standpoint given in 4 of my #985 [b], we would like to avoid bringing about any situation likely to result in an armed clash with Soviet Russia until strategic circumstances permit it; and so get the German Government to understand this position of ours and negotiate with them so that at least for the present they would not insist upon exchanging diplomatic notes on this question." See doc.
6 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Canton
#225
"The evacuation of the Consular staffs and resident Nationals of hostile nations will have to parallel and coincide with measures concerning the departure of our Consular staffs and our resident Nationals, so when you receive orders from Headquarters you may proceed to handle this matter." See doc.
6 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Bangkok
#852
"The (----) [a] day (X Day) decided by the ---- [b] liaison conference on the 6th (?) [c] is the 8th and the day on which the notice is to be given is the 7th (?) (Sunday). As soon as you have received this message, please reply to that effect." See doc.
6 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Tokyo
#1272
"In addition to carrying on frontal negotiations with the President and HULL, we also worked directly and indirectly through Cabinet members having close relations with the President and through individuals equally influential (because of its delicate bearing upon the State Department, please keep this point strictly secret)." See doc.
6 December 1941 From: Tokyo (Togo)
To: Honolulu
#128
"Please wire immediately re the latter part of my #123 [a] the movements of the fleet subsequent to the fourth." See doc.
6 December 1941 From: Honolulu
To: Tokyo
#253
Re your #123.
"On the American Continent in October the Army began training barrage balloon troops at Camp Davis, North Carolina." See doc.
6 December 1941 From: Honolulu
To: Tokyo
#254
"On the evening of the 5th, among the battleships which entered port were and one submarine tender. The following ships were observed at anchor on the 6th:" See doc.
6 December 1941 From: Seattle
To: Tokyo
#184
"The ships at anchor in Bremerton on the 5th were the Warspite (came out of the dock and at present is tied up at a pier) and the Colorado." See doc.
7 December 1941 From: Bangkok
To: Tokyo
#919
"Re your #821 [a] and #23 [a] addressed to Your Excellency from Singora. All telegraphic codes referred to have been destroyed on December 5th." See doc.
7 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#907
"Will the Ambassador please submit to the United States Government (if possible to the Secretary of State) our reply to the United States at 1:00 p. m. on the 7th, your time." See doc.
7 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#908
"All concerned regret very much that due to failure in adjusting Japanese-American relations, matters have come to what they are now, despite all the efforts you two Ambassadors have been making. I wish to take this opportunity to offer my deepest thanks to you both for your endeavors and hard work as well as for what all the members of the Embassy have done." See doc.
7 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#909
"I, together with the members of the Bureau, deeply appreciate and heartily thank you for your great effort which you have been making for manymonths in behalf of our country despite all difficulties in coping with theunprecedented crisis. We pray that you will continue to be in good health" See doc.
7 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Washington
#910
"After deciphering part 14 of my #902 [a] and also #907 [b], #908 [c] and #909 [d], please destroy at once the remaining cipher machine and all machine codes. Dispose in like manner also secret documents." See doc.
7 December 1941 From: Tokyo.
To: (Circular)
#2492
"The Departments concerned have been giving study to the question of handling enemy subjects, and enemy property in Japan, as well as the handling of neutrals, and on the 6th the results were reported to the Imperial Headquarters; the main points of which I am giving in my separate circular #2193*." See doc.
7 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: Net
Circular #2493
"In regard to our handling of enemy subjects and enemy property in Japan, we will approach this matter in the magnanimity of a great nation, complying with international law as far as possible, and exercising care not to give the enemy nations or other third party nations any occasion for taking retaliatory measures, or for making unfavorable propaganda." See doc.
7 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: (Circular telegram)
Circular #2494
"Relations between Japan and England are not in accordance with expectation." See doc.
7 December 1941 From: Tokyo
To: (Circular)
Circular #2499
"In the event of international crisis following upon our pursuance of our national policy regarding the China affair, which was decided on at the liaison-conference held on November 13th, the following steps will be taken in China:" See doc.
7 December 1941 From: Washington
To: Tokyo
#1278
"Your instructions and your #911** have been duly received and decoded, and as soon as we have composed and dispatched this telegram we will commence the demolition and destruction by fire." See doc.
7 December 1941 From: Budapest
To: Tokyo
#104
"On the 6th, the American Minister presented to the Government of this country a British Government communiqué to the effect that a state of war would break out on the 7th." See doc.
8 December 1941 From: Berlin
To: Tokyo
#1437
"At 1:00 p. m. today (8th) I called on Foreign Minister Ribbentrop and told him our wish was to have Germany and Italy issue formal declarations of war on America at once." See doc.