Evening star., 1945-11-23
Hull Tells Hearing He Warned
Cabinet Nov. 7, 1941, to Expect
japanese Attack at Any Time
Denies Memorandum
Given ENJOYS Nov. 2o
Was Ultimutum
By ]. A. OLEARY and
CARTER BROOKE JONES.

Former Secretary of State
Hull told the Pearl Harbor In
vestigating Committee today
that he warned the cabinet on
November 7, 1941, exactly a
month before the attack, that
this country should be on the
lookout for a military attack
anywhere by Japan at any TIME.
The veteran statesman said ne
told the War Council on November
25. that "the japanese military were
already poised for attack adding;
"The japanese leaders were deter
mined and desperate. They were
likely to break out anywhere, at any
time. at any place, and I emphasized
the probable element of surprise IN
their plans. I felt that virtually the
last stage had been reached ana
that the safeguarding of our national
security was in the hands OF the
Army and the Navy
Three days later, November %,
Mr., Hull testified, at another meet
ing of the War Council: With due
Difference, 1 expressed my judgment
that any plans for our military de-
fense should include an assumption
that the japanese might make the
element of surprise central point
in their strategy, and also might at
tack at various points simultaneous
ly with a view to demoralizing ef-
forts of defense and of co-ordina-
ton
Denies Ultimatum in Note.
Mr.. Hull denied that the final note
which he handed the japanese en-
voys November 26 was an ultima
tum, but described it as essentially
a restatement of principles which
have long been basic in this coun-
try's foreign policy" He added:
"It is not surprising that japanese
propaganda, especially after Japan
had begun to suffer serious defeats,
has tried to distort and give false
meaning to our memorandum of No
vepber 26 by referring to it as an
'ultimatum.' This was in line With
q well-known japanese characters
tic of utilizing completely false and
fimsy preteXts to delude their peo-
pie and gain their support for mill
tary depredations and aggrandize-
ment."
On the other hand, Mr.. Hull felt
that the japanese note of November
20 clearly was an ultimatum. Il
knew" he said, ''as did other high
officers of the Government, from in
tercepted japanese messages sup
piled to me by the War and Navy
Departments, that this proposal was
the final Japanese proposition-an
ultimatum."
Mr.. Hull told the congressional
committee:
THE whole issue presented was
whether Japan would yield in her
avowed movement of conquest or
whether we would yield the funda-
mental principles for which We
stood in the Pacific and all over
the world"
Mr.. Hull added: by midsummer
of 1941 we were pretty well satisfied
that the Japanese were determined
to continue with their course of ex-
pansion by force. We had made il
clear to them that we were standing
fast by our principles. 1t was evil
dent, however, that they were play
ing for the chance that we might
be overawed into yielding by their
threats of force.
Acceptance "Unthinkable."
"They were armed to the teeth
and we knew they would attack
whenever and wherever they pleased
If by chance we should have yielded
our fundamental principles, Japan
would probably not have attacked
for the time being-at least not
until she had consolidated the gains
she would have made without fight
ing"
Mr. Hull emphasized: There was
never any question of this country S
forcing Japan to fight. The question
was whether this country was ready
to sacrifice its principles.
ITO have accepted the japanese
proposal of November 20 was clearly
unthinkable. 1t would have made
the United States an ally of Japan's
program of conquest and aggression
and of collaboration with Hitler. Il
would have meant yielding to the
japanese demand that the United
States abandon its principles ane
policies. 1t would have meant abjecT
surrender of our position under in
timidation."
Statement Read to Committee.
When Mr.. Hull was sworn as
witness, Chairman Barkley said HI
assumed the committee would no
insist that the former Secretar.
read the 50-page statement he hat
prepared, because of the condition
of his health. Senator Barkley salt
the question was whether the docu
ment would be read or merely place.
In the record.
The committee split along parti
san lines, the four Republican mem
bers holding it should be read ant
the Democratic members voting II
have it inserted in the record.
The statement was handed mem
bers several days ago, and all o
them said they had read it. J.
Chairman Barkley said that, rathe
than make it partisan matter, h
would side with the Republica
members and vote to have it reae
Gerhard Gesell, assistant committe
counsel, was delegated to read tn
statement.
Mr.. Hull, his voice enfeebled b
: the illness that forced his retire
ment last year after more than
decade at the helm of the State De
partment, said:
when this hearing was projected
I undertook to prepare statemen
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