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

1944: A Year of Investigations 433
Southwest Pacifi c would begin on that date, because, at that
time Hawaii was out of our minds. 38
On December 1 U.S. offi cials learned that Japan was going
to attack Britain and the United States. Th en on December 4
we “received defi nite information . . . that Japan would attack
the United States and Britain, but would maintain peace with
Russia.” 39
At 9:00 p.m. (Washington time), December 6, 1941, we received
positive information that Japan would declare war against the
United States, at a time to be specifi ed thereafter. Th is information
was positive and unmistakable and was made available
to Military Intelligence at this same time. 40
Because this information was so important, it “was distributed as
a rush job by Lieutenant Commander Kramer.”
Much of the December 6 information was distributed over
the telephone by Admiral Wilkinson and by Secretary Hull.
Th e following offi cials were given this information that night:
President Roosevelt (via the White House Aide), Secretary
Hull, Secretary Stimson, Secretary Knox, Admiral Stark, Rear
Admiral Turner, Rear Admiral Wilkinson, Rear Admiral
Beardall. Lieutenant Colonel R.S. Bratton, U.S. Army, was
given the same information at 9:00 p.m. [December 6] for dissemination
to War Department offi cials, and we did not know
any more, except that he got a copy over to Secretary Hull by
10:00. 41
Finally, at 10:15 a.m. (Washington time), December 7, 1941,
we received positive information from the Signal Intelligence
38Ibid., p. 390.
39Ibid. 40Ibid. 41Ibid., pp. 390–92.