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

814 Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy
According to Stark, therefore, it was about 10:30 or 11—after
he reached his offi ce that morning—that he saw the 14-part
Japanese reply. It was then also, he said, that he had learned that
the Japanese ambassadors had been directed to present his government’s
reply “to the Secretary of State at 1:00 p.m.” that same
day. 274 Stark said he had discussed the Japanese reply and the
time of its presentation with Navy Captain Schuirmann, State
Department liaison. 275 However, several other witnesses told of
seeing Stark in his offi ce much earlier than 10:30 or 11:00. Kramer
told the 1944 Naval Court of Inquiry that he “made the hurried
delivery” of the 14-part Japanese reply to Stark in his offi ce “at
about 9:00 a.m. on the morning of December 7.” 276 Stark had not
been alone, he said; there were then “about 12 or 15 offi cers present.
Most of the heads of divisions in the Navy Department and
those that attended the Admirals’ conference were there.” Kramer
was relieved that Wilkinson was there because Kramer could “let
him carry the ball with Admiral Stark as far as any further explanation
of references were concerned.” 277
In February 1946 before the JCC, Kramer changed his story
slightly. He testifi ed: “As soon as this 14th part was typed up . . .
shortly after 8:00, delivery was made to Captain McCollum along
with the other 13 parts.” 278 Kramer’s 1946 “recollection” was that
it was “about 9:30” that all fourteen parts were delivered to Stark’s
offi ce. 279
Wilkinson also testifi ed before the JCC that Stark was in his
offi ce earlier that Sunday morning than 10:30 or 11:00, Stark’s
“usual” arrival time. Wilkinson had reached his own offi ce “shortly
274 Ibid., p. 2184.
275 Ibid.
276 Ibid., part 33, p. 865.
277 Ibid.
278 Ibid., part 9, p. 4006.
279 Ibid., part 9, p. 4038. Kramer testimony before the Joint Committee.