The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-12-26
WNU Service, 1343 II Street, NV,
Washington, d. C.

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Washington, d. C.
Here in Washington where we feel
the repercussions of the war more
deeply than anywhere in the coun-
try except coast cities where enemy
planes threaten, and even the
thoughts we had last week seem
very far away.
To me an even greater gulf seems
to exist between Friday and Satur-
day, between peacetime and war
time. On Saturday, December 5, /
sat in the drawing room of the Japa-
nese embassy talking with the en-
bassy's first secretary. His card
which he gave me as / left it on the
desk as / write. "Hidenari Terra
saki, first secretary of the Japa-
nese embassy, Washington" the en-
graved script reads.
With us was Saburo Kurusu, the
man who was supposed to be plan
ming a peaceful settlement of Japa-
nese-American relations at the very
moment when Japanese bombers
and battleships were already on
their way to Pearl Harbor. did
not know it then, but I was the last
American reporter - perhaps the
only one-to interview him.
Washington Diary
The next afternoon just as / was
starting out to take walk in Rock
Creek park, the news of the astound-
ing attack on Hawaii reached me.
From then on radio and news re-
porters have been pretty busy. But
I took time out to jot down the
events of Saturday that were a trag-
ically stupid prelude to war. am
now offering this record Tin part) as
sort of washington Diary" -
Saturday, December 6: Spent the
whole day preparing for special
Far Eastern broadcast, pickup of
Far Eastern capitals, London and
Washington. Went first to call on
''X'' whom I knew would be in
formed as well as anyone on the
negotiations. We sat in his beauti-
full library. The ancient books, the
mellow leathered chairs all gave
the place an atmosphere of dignity
and solidarity that seemed far away
from the little Saturday afternoon
world. Mr.. sex" suggested two
phrases of which / made mental
note. First: "Kurusu is still here"
The second: ''The center of gravity
has shifted from the state depart
ment to the navy department"
Since Kurusu was still here it was
explained, the situation had not
changed. But the next move was
decidedly Japan's; the state depart
ment had probably said it's last
word. Mr.. ''X'' was of the opinion
that it was still possible that some
face-saving method would be worked
out to permit the military element
to accede to our demands and thus
keep Japan from committing sui
cide.'' His impression was that moth
ing would happen before Tuesday
when he thought Kurusu would hand
Secretary Hull Japan's answer to
the state departments note.
Next Stop-The Embassy
AS l was leaving, a memorandum
was handed in saying that Kurusu
would receive me at the Japanese
embassy Immediately. had been
trying very hard to get that ap-
pointment and after two days ne
gotiating, my assistant had finally
succeeded. , ...
I was first shown through the busy
chancery of the Japanese embassy
to the office of First Secretary Terra
saki, smiling little brown man
with eyes that came as near to
slanting as any orientaPs do. He
warned me that I could not quote
Mr.. Kurusu nor was to mention
my visit at all for week or so as
others would demand interviews.
\ Terasaki said he would give me
some background.
When we were settled he told me
a sort of parable. He said:
Suppose man has been fighting
for four days and four nights in
the street. Another man who has
been sitting in his comfortable chair
every evening wants to do some
thing. Should man in arm chair
come to fighting man and talk about
principles, about Confucius and
Aristotle?"
He paused a moment and stared
at me steadily with brown eyes that
looked as solid as bullets.
mo, I think" he went on, imam
in armchair should approach man
who is fighting with tact and SYM
pathy!"
He paused again to see how I
was taking it. I dropped my eyes
to the notes I was making and he