Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-10

SAID Gen. Marshall, was a slash.
not an invasion. We had reference
to invasions. The attack on Hawaii
was a slash at our feet
They wanted to avoid trouble
from our fleet in their. movement
southwark into Asia?" Senator
Ferguson suggested.
yes, sir, they did"
when did the general staff first
flgure they might attack uor fleet
in Hawaii" Senator Ferguson
asked. "-t' =
Il don't know that the staff ever
figured that out exactly" the gem
eral answered. 1--WE had assumed
that IN Pearl Harbor we had a rea-
sonable secure base for our feet. ~
Stimson Memorandum Cited.
Senator Ferguson cited one mem
orandum in which former Secre-
tary OF War Stimson wanted to
know from the general staff late in
November, 1941, what warnings had
been sent to Gen. Macarthur with
no mention of Gen. Short in Hawaii,
Gen. Marshall said he presumed
II was because of feeling that the
Philippines and Guam were likely
to be attacked. After this oeury
however, the general warning was
sent on November q to all outposts
including Hawaii. Earlier, on No
vember "a, the Navy had sent a
warning to various Naval command
erS, suggesting surprise aggressive
movement in any direction, includ-
ing attack on Philippines or Guam
as possibility" The Chief of STAFF
saw this message, and naval COM
manders were instructed to show it
to Army commanders.
What prompted the sending of
this warning on November 24?" Sen.
ator Ferguson asked.
Gen. Marshall said he assumed
some information must have come
in at that time to suggest it.
Deadline Was Extended.
Representative Murphy, Demo-
crat, OF Pennsylvania interrupted to
point out that the Japanese had
first set November Is as the dead
line for reaching some agreement
in the diplomatic negotiations that
were going on here. Later that date
was extended.
AS the inquiry entered its fourth
week, Senator Ferguson was uues-
tioning the former chief of staff in
great detail about DEVELOPMENTS be-
tween the Atlantic Ocean meeting
of President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Churchill in August, 1s4l.
and the japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor December Z.
Senator Ferguson quoted from a
memorandum on the Far Eastern
situation Gen. Marshall and Admiral
Stark prepared for the President
on November S, 1941, and then
asked:
Were you of the opinion then that
II war came between Britain and
Japan at Singapore, it would also
mean war for the United States in
the Philippines?"
THAT was my estimate at the
time, because of the situation in the
Philippines" Gen. Marshall replied
The general said he and Admiral
Stark had recommended in that
memorandum that If Japanese
forces were moved into Thailand
beyond a certain point of longitude
and latitude 1t would be regarded as
an offensive act.
Whether the governments COT
Great. Britain and the United
States would have so regarded II
is another matter" the general add
led. "But in my opinion the moment
the Japanese entered the Gulf OF
Siam it meant q catastrophe for us
in the Philippines and for the Brit
ish at Singapore unless we resisted. ;
Was Consulted ON Fleet.
Gen. Marshall told the committee
he did not remember his stand or
the basiag Of the Pacific Fleet oil
Hawaii when that question was be.
ing decided in the spring OF 1910
Were you consulted In May, 1910
about the basing of the feet at Pear
Harbor?' Senator Ferguson asked
7 am quite certain was involved
in the dicussion," Gen. Marshal
-eplied. T am sorry I do not. re.
call what my point of view was.
He added that the had more
distinct recollection of the fact thai
there was q great deal Of discussion
on the ACCESSIBILITY Of strengthening
the Atlantic Fleet at that time.
You would be vitality interested In
basinR the fleet ut Pearl Harbor,