[Secret]
 
From: Washington
To: Tokyo
19 November 1941
(Purple)
#1140
 

Re your #791*

 

(1) We assume that the date, 25 November, mentioned in your message #736**, is an absolutely unalterable one. We are making all our arrangements with that as the basis.

 

We are also in receipt of your instructions concerning your conversations with the British Ambassador (your message #763***).

 

In view of those, we have been hinting to the United States that it is of much importance that we receive some definite reply within ten days and that it is impossible for us to continue with the negotiations if there is any further delay.

 

At a time when we are thus pressing them for an early reply, I feel that it would do us great harm were we to announce that we are having ships, with all the accompanying dark implications, leave on or about the 25th or 26th. We feel that such a statement by us would lead to their having doubts of the determined front we have been putting up. We feel that such a step would not be in accordance with your repeated instructions to bring about an early settlement.

 

In view of these facts, I beg of you to reconsider the matter.

 

If it is impossible to do so, please let us postpone our making that announcement for at least four or five days to permit us to see how the talks are progressing.

 

After you have given these points your consideration, please advise us.

 

(2) The number of persons connected with business firms who still remain here and who wish to return to Japan does not warrant the sending of a ship at this time. If it is for the purpose of taking our nationals home from Panama, we feel that a ship sent to South America could be rerouted for them.

 

(3) If the final decision is reached to have the ship sent here, there will be no difficulty in arranging matters for the evacuating of government officials and their wives. However, there will no doubt be much complication if it is your intention to have all men connected with business firms depart. We feel that it would be necessary that the home offices of these people should be notified, and that the said home offices should in turn send notifications and instructions to their personnel on the scene.

 

Please give these points your consideration.

 
25142
JD-1: 6708                                  (D) Navy Trans. 11-22-41 (2)
 
*Not available. 
**JD-1: 6254. 
***JD-1: 6416.

 

(EXHIBITS OF JOINT COMMITTEE , EXHIBIT NO. 1 INTERCEPTED DIPLOMATIC MESSAGES SENT BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN JULY l AND DECEMBER 8, 1941)