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

800 Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy
his arrival in Washington and after having had his memory
“refreshed as to the events,” Kramer revised his testimony slightly
as to his delivery times; he said then that “[a]ctually [he] did not
the status of being the fi rst one called rather than one of the translators
whose homes were in outlying districts. . . .
Richardson: When the delivery was made on Sunday morning
then the entire 14-part message was delivered as one message?
Kramer: Th at is correct, sir. . . . Some details of delivery between
8 and 9 o’clock I have only in the last month or so had my memory
refreshed on, in conversations with other offi cers. Th e fi rst delivery, to
my present best recollection, was made to Commander McCollum,
head of the Far Eastern Section, Navy Intelligence. . . . It was probably
about 8 o’clock or a few minutes after. . . . Another delivery was made, I
believe, about a quarter of 9 to Captain McCollum also, or Commander
McCollum then, when I was informed that Admiral Wilkinson had
arrived at his offi ce, and I therefore automatically delivered another
copy to Admiral Wilkinson. It was about that time, or shortly afterward
that another copy was delivered to Admiral Stark’s offi ce. . . . Th at
fi rst delivery to Admiral Stark’s offi ce, I believe, was done by either
Admiral Wilkinson or Captain McCollum. . . . My fi rst positive recollection
of seeing Admiral Stark is when I was on my way to the State
Department to keep my 10 o’clock appointment when I left a copy
of some of the other traffi c that had come in in Admiral Stark’s outer
offi ce. Th at was probably 9:30 or 9:40. . . . I was at the State Department
almost exactly 10 minutes of 10.
Richardson: And to whom did you make delivery actually?
Kramer: Actually to Mr. Knox directly. He came in, as I recollect,
about 5 minutes of 10, a few minutes after I got there, and went into
the conference room, Mr. Hull’s offi ce. . . . Th ere was a brief discussion
between myself, the Army courier, and Mr. Hull’s private secretary in
Mr. Hull’s outer offi ce. It lasted probably not more than 3 or 4 minutes,
and then I headed back for the Navy Department.
Richardson: What time did you return to the Navy Department?
Kramer: My best recollection is about 10:20. . . . On my arrival
there at 10:20, the most striking recollection I have is the fi rst sighting
of that message from Tokyo directing the delivery of this note from
Tokyo at 1 o’clock p. m., December 7, Washington time. . . . I immediately
instructed by chief yeoman to prepare another set of folders so I
could make immediate delivery of them.