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

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Further Indications <strong>of</strong> Impending Japanese Action 243<br />

<strong>and</strong> inspired press which created an atmosphere not conducive to<br />

peace.” Kurusu pointed out that “on the American side we were<br />

not free from injurious newspaper propag<strong>and</strong>a.” One press report<br />

had cast “aspersions on” him personally, saying he had been sent<br />

here “to check on” Nomura. Hull “replied that he had heard only<br />

good reports in regard to Mr. Kurusu <strong>and</strong> the Ambassador.”<br />

In spite <strong>of</strong> the formal pleasantry, the Japanese ambassador’s<br />

sotte voce remark had been correct—the discussions weren’t getting<br />

anywhere. Th e two ambassadors made “the usual apologies<br />

for taking so much <strong>of</strong> the Secretary’s time” <strong>and</strong> withdrew. 8<br />

FDR <strong>and</strong> Stimson Denounce for Lack <strong>of</strong><br />

Patriotism Those Who Leaked U.S. War Plans<br />

Th e December 4 Chicago Tribune story on “F.D.R.’s War<br />

Plan” had aroused the country. At a White House press conference<br />

the next day, Roosevelt parried questions <strong>of</strong> reporters <strong>and</strong><br />

referred them to Secretary <strong>of</strong> War Stimson. Almost 200 newspaper<br />

correspondents immediately “fl ocked to his [Stimson’s] press<br />

conference.” 9 After reading a short statement, Stimson asked the<br />

reporters,<br />

What would you think <strong>of</strong> an American general staff which<br />

in the present condition <strong>of</strong> the world did not investigate <strong>and</strong><br />

study every conceivable type <strong>of</strong> emergency which may confront<br />

this country, <strong>and</strong> every possible method <strong>of</strong> meeting that<br />

emergency?<br />

He questioned the patriotism <strong>of</strong> the person or newspaper<br />

that would publish confi dential studies <strong>and</strong> make them available<br />

to our enemies. Th e newspaper report was about an unfi nished<br />

8 Ibid., pp. 782–83.<br />

9 New York Times, December 6, 1941, p. 3.

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