Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy - Ludwig von Mises ...

U.S. Military Plans and Preparations 93
but that he would be forced to relinquish several destroyers and
cruisers to reinforce the Atlantic Fleet. Th is was in accord with
the U.S.-British ABC-1 agreement.
“Th e entire world set-up was gone into very carefully,” Stark
wrote Kimmel on April 19. A detachment of ships—three battleships,
one aircraft carrier, four cruisers and two squadrons of
destroyers—was to be transferred from the Pacifi c to the Atlantic.
But then the president canceled the authorization for the move
and gave specifi c directions to bring only the one CV (aircraft
carrier) and one division of destroyers. Th e president “did not
want, at this particular moment, to give any signs of seriously
weakening the forces in the Pacifi c.” 32
However, a week later, after a long conference at the White
House on April 25, it was decided that the most urgent matter
was to go “all out in the Atlantic.” Stark wrote Kimmel the
following day that he should get “mentally prepared” because “a
considerable detachment from your fl eet will be brought to the
Atlantic.” Stark anticipated “the reinforcing of the Atlantic by the
3 BBs [battleships], 1 CV [aircraft carrier], 4 CLs [cruisers] and
2 squadrons of destroyers.” And still further detachments from
the Pacifi c Fleet might be expected. Action on the transfer may
come “at any time.” 33
In May 1941 “a force consisting of three battleships, an aircraft
carrier and appropriate supporting vessels . . . about a quarter
of the strength of the Pacifi c Fleet,” was shifted to the Atlantic
from Kimmel’s command in the Pacifi c. Th ese ships then joined
“in the ever-extending activities of the Atlantic patrol,” which
was lending support to Britain. 34
32 Joint Committee, Pearl Harbor Attack, part 16, p. 2164. Stark to Kimmel,
April 19, 1941.
33 Ibid., part 16, p. 2165. Stark to Kimmel, April 26, 1941.
34 William L. Langer and S. Everett Gleason, Th e Undeclared War, 1940–1941
(New York: Harper & Bros., 1953), p. 451.