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

The Navy Court of Inquiry (July 24–October 19, 1944) 535
publications. 160 Th at was when Saff ord said the “Winds Code
Execute” had been received,
Noyes: Th is was one of a series of dispatches sent, directing
the destruction of all secret publications in the Pacifi c that
could be spared in view of the imminence of war. I prepared
it. It was sent on the 4th of December. Th is is my handwriting
(indicating); and I prepared this dispatch, which is one of some
others. 161
Judge Advocate Biesemeier pursued the matter: “Imminence
of war with what country, Admiral?”
Noyes: Japan.
Biesemeier pressed on. Why did Noyes believe a war with
Japan was “imminent”?
Noyes: Th e seriousness of the situation in the Pacifi c. I couldn’t
give you the exact items as they came up between the 27th
[the date of the “war warning”] and the 4th. Th ings had gotten
progressively worse. . . . 162
Judge Advocate: But you have not yet told us the developments
[between 27 November and 4 December 1941] . . . which made
you think this dispatch was necessary?
Noyes: No, I don’t think I could give you the exact sequence
of events between those two dates. Ambassador Nomura, and
I expect, Ambassador Kurusu, were in Washington, and the
negotiations were apparently not proceeding well. Th ere was
160 Ibid., pp. 1178–79, OPNAV message #-042017; see also part 14, p. 1408.
161 Ibid., part 33, p. 893.
162 Ibid., pp. 893–94.