[Secret]
From: Tokyo
To: Washington
November 18, 1941
Purple
#788 (Strictly Secret)
Re
your #1098. [a]
1.
It is hard to prophesy the future course of events, but in the case of
"B" if we carry out the first sailing proposal in my #786 [a] for:
(a) the remaining officials; (b) such persons as must absolutely not be held
back; (c) company employees; and (d) all residents who were unable to board the
three ships previously dispatched, the matter can be satisfactorily handled. We
will at this sailing have the families of our various diplomatic officials as
well as members of their staffs who must return to Japan, without an exception,
board the ship. However, we do not intend to warn any save those of our
residents who must of a certainty return to sail. The number of those who
actually embarked at the first sailing was much smaller than the original
number of applicants. The reason was, doubtless, nostalgia and a reluctance to
part with their property.
2.
Will you secretly, therefore, suitably advise the several consuls to take the
following steps: (a) to help our citizens who remain behind to work together
for the common good; (b) to destroy immediately such secret documents and so
forth as are in the possession of Japanese companies and chambers of commerce.
3.
We are now studying ways and means of cooperation between our diplomatic
officials and our consulates, as well as responsibility for the interests of
our high offices in case of "B". We will negotiate concerning the
latter here in Tokyo.
4.
I am wiring you next a plan for reducing the members of staffs.
Army 24976 Trans. 11/19/41 (S)
[a] Not available.
(EXHIBITS OF JOINT COMMITTEE , EXHIBIT NO. 1 INTERCEPTED DIPLOMATIC MESSAGES SENT BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN JULY l AND DECEMBER 8, 1941)