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

566 Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy
attack would be inimical to the successful prosecution of the
war, then that opinion must be heard with respect.
Admiral Kimmel and General Short are entitled to a full and
open inquiry into all the circumstances of their preparation,
or lack of it, to meet a Japanese attack. Th ey are entitled to an
opportunity to give a public explanation. . . . But fi rst things
come fi rst. Winning the war is the paramount duty now before
every offi cial and every citizen. Th e best interests of the country
will be served if the question of responsibility for the disaster of
Pearl Harbor is put aside for the duration. 51
Th e next day, December 6, “an unpleasant account” about the
Pearl Harbor investigation by “muckraker” newspaperman Drew
Pearson appeared on the front page of the Miami Herald. Stimson
considered it unfortunate that the president had thwarted his
“original plan for giving a full and frank statement,” and he confi
ded to his diary that he
had warned the president that the thing was sure to leak and
here Drew Pearson had gotten hold of so many facts that it
looked as if all of the rest would probably come out. Fortunately
Marshall’s name was not mentioned and some of the things
that Pearson said were entirely inaccurate and wrong and can
be denied. 52
51Ibid., editorial, p. 22.
52Stimson Diary, vol. 49, pp. 68–69, December 1–10, 1944.