[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)