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

U.S. International Policy: 1933–1940 21
the 555 German survivors and brought them to this country as
“distressed mariners.” 32
At the president’s request, little publicity was given this incident.
Admiral Harold R. Stark, U.S. chief of naval operations,
radioed Captain Harry A. Badt of Tuscaloosa asking that he give
the impression his ship had come upon the German liner by
accident and, fortunately, just in time to pursue her humane role.
Captain Badt was to state that the British ship had not appeared
ready to commence an action. Stark noted: “We do not desire
you to make public the details of the work of our . . . patrol.” 33
Nevertheless, accounts of the event did appear, although they
caused little excitement; people apparently approved, considering
this consistent with the Patrol’s ostensible purpose—to protect
U.S. merchantmen—and to keep hostilities from invading our
shores.
FDR again professed devotion to neutrality when he addressed
Congress on January 3, 1940. “Th e fi rst president of the United
States warned us against entangling foreign alliances. Th e present
president of the United States subscribes to and follows that precept.”
34 Th e next day, he appointed Navy Admiral J.O. Richardson
to be commander-in-chief of the U.S. Fleet (CINCUS), replacing
Admiral Claude C. Bloch. Richardson was an old Navy hand,
well-equipped through training and experience to take over the
operation of the Fleet. Command was transferred on January 6,
1940. 35
32 Abbazia, Mr. Roosevelt’s Navy, p. 74.
33 Ibid.
34 Department of State, Peace and War, p. 511.
35 The New York Times, January 7, 1940.