FATEFUL DECADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 2, 4 January 1943, Page 5

FATEFUL DECADE

BEFORE PEARL HARBOUR UNITED STATES REVIEWS FOREIGN POLICY (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Recd. 10 p.m.) New York, Jan. 2. The State Department has issued a White Book entitled “Peace and War —United States’ Foreign Policy from 1931 to 1941,” disclosing important diplomatic documents ot the fateful aecade before Pearl Harbour. The book reveals that Ambassador Grew cabled from Tokio on January 27, 1941. that the Japanese were planning “a surprise attack on Pearl Haroour in case of trouble with the United States.”

This cablegram was only one of a series of warnings dating back to 1932, progressively urgent in subsequent years, until Mr. Cordell Hull told the British Ambassador on November 29, 1941: “The diplomatic part of our relations with japan is virtually over. The matter is now going to the Army and Navy officials.” He added: “It would be a serious mistake lor our country and other countries interested in the Pacific to make glans lor resistance not including the possibility that Japan may move suddenly with every possible element of surprise, spread out over considerable areas ana capture certain positions and posts beiore the peaceful countries interested in the Pacific would have time to confer and formulate plans.”