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REF ID:A487813 

EXTRACT FROM MR. GREWS TESTIMONY 

IN THE PEARL HARBOR COMMITTEE 

Witness Grew Questions by: Mr. Murphy 

Senator Brewster 

Mr. Murphy: Finally I direct your attention to page 

415 of your book. You were asked whether or not you knew 

of these Japanese intercepts. You were also asked the question, 

at least the question has been raised here, whether the Japanese 

knew of our messages. You make a statement on page 415 which 

would seem to indicate that the Japanese knew of some of our 

message's, except "one confidential code"; is that correct? 

Mr. Grew: That is true. I cao tell you how that came 

about. One of the high officials of the Japanese Government 

wanted to send a secret m.essage to our Government which they 

did not want the Japanese military to see and in passing this 

message on they asked me to please put it in our most secret 

code. I said of course I would do so. Then after a little 

hemm.ing-and-having this official said to me, "We understand 

that you have one code which is unbreakable 11 • 

Mr. Murphy: I have no other questions. 

The Chairman: Senator Brewster. 

Senaton'!~Brewster: Mr. Ambasisador, in connection with the 

basing of the Fieet at Hawaii, stationing it there, when did 

you first have kn~ledge of that? 

@'pp roved for Release by NSA on 11-12-2013 pursuantto E .0. 1352a 
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REF ID:A487813 

Witness Grew Questions by: .Senator Brewster 

Mr. Grew: I beg your pardon, I didn't understand. 

Senator Brewster: When did you first have knowledge of 

the Fleet being retained at Honolulu? 

Mr. Grew: Retained at Honolulu? 

Senator Brewster: Retained, ye·s. 

Mr. Grew: Well, I can't rem.ember the precise date. 

Senator Brewster: I inquire With particular relation to 

vhether or not you were advised in advance or whether you 

learned of it after the event; that is what I am concerned with. 

Mr. Grew: Frankly, Senator, I couldn't answer that 

question without consulting the record. I have no recollection 

of having been specifically advised of it. 

Senator Brewster: Could you say whether or not you were 

asked tor an opinion or whether you were consulted in advance, 

before that action was taken? 

Mr. Grew: I have no recollection of that, Senator. I 

would have to look at the record. 

Senator Brewster: You have no recollection that you 

were, but if you find that you were you will advise us? 

Mr. Grew: Right. 

Senator Brewster: So that if we have no further record 

ve will ~derstand that you were not consulted before the event. 

Mr. Grev: That is correct. 

Senator Brewster: You understand that the Fleet went 

•. out to Pearl Harbor f'or maneuvers· in March or April 1940 and '=-

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REF ID:A487813 

Witness Grew Questions by: Senator Brewster 

subsequently on May 1 I believe the decision was notified to 

Pearl Harbor that the Fleet vould be retained there and so 

far as the evidence now shows it remained there from then on 

based at Pearl Harbor. 

Mr. Grew: Yes. 

Senator Brewster: You have just spoken about the code. 

Did you ever have any reason to think that the Japs had 

knowledge of our codes or vere getting any of our messages? 

Mr. Grew: Well, I think that, from that which the 

official mentioned, to the effect that he understood that we 

had one code that was unbreakable, I think that implied that 

they were able to break our other codes, but I have no concrete 

evidence on that, Senator. 

Senator Brewster: Did you ever have reason to think that 

they knew we were breaking some or all of their codes? 

Mr. Grew: I have no evidence to that effect, Senator. 

Senator Brewster: Nothing ever came to your attention 

which would indicate that they even had a suspicion of that? 

Mr. Grew: No, sir, did not. 

Senator Brewster: Did you receive copies of any of these 

intercepts at any time, of the diplomatic communications1 

Mr. Grew: No, sir, I received no copies of such intercepts. 

Senator Brewster: Were you ever apprised of the inform.ation which they contained? 

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REF ID:A487813 

Witness Grew Questions by: Senator Brewster 

Mr. Grew: No, sir. 

Senator Brewster: So you proceeded all through this 

period without whatever benefit there may have been to that 

knowledge in appraising the situation? 

Mr. Grew: Yes, sir . 

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