Evening star., 1945-09-01
Tokyo May Provide
Pearl Hdrbor Data as
Probe DemandsMou

Possibility tndI AHleliCaH oSSoPo-
ton officials will be able to collect
evidence in Tokyo that will shed
more light on japanese treachery
at the time of Pearl Harbor was
given some consideration here to-
day as legislators talked about a
further investigation by Congress.
Chairmen of interested congress
sional committees said there was no
doubt Congress would insist on a
fuller story than that told by the
official Army and Navy reports on
Pearl Harbor, but no definite plans
for initiating the investigation de-
veloped Immediately.
1t was pointed out that evidence
from japanese documents and war
criminal trials of some of the men
who planned the sneak attack on
Pearl Harbor might lead to fuller
understanding of the incident by the
time any congressional investigation
got under way.
Hull Awaits Developments.
Meanwhile, Cordel Hull who was
criticized by the Army Pearl Harbor
Board for his conduct of negotia-
tions with the japanese as Secre-
tary of State at the time of Pearl
Harbor, was awaiting possible furth-
er developments before making any
public comment.
He was reported by friends, how
ever, astonished that the Army
board gave any credence to jap
anese claims that his policies as Sec
retary of State precipitated the war,
which he is convinced japan was
prepared to start at her own time
regardless of this country's peace
efforts.
I President Truman and Secretary
of War Stimson already have re-
buked the Army Pearl Harbor
Board for what Mr.. Stimson termed
"a suggestion which might be con-
strued as criticism of Mr.. Hull"
Attack Seen fastened.
Mr.. Hull's presentation of "coun-
| terproposals' to japanese ENJOYS
here on November 26, 194l, was de-
scribed by the Army board report as
in conflict with War and Navy De-
partment efforts to gain time for
war preparation to the extent that
it hastened the Pearl Harbor at
tack. 1t added that the Japanese
took the November 26 document as
an ultimatum, regardless of Mr.
Hull's insistence that it was not.
The former Secretary of State!
astonishment that the Army boare
would pay any attention to tn.
japanese claim that this documen
was an ultimatum forcing them tt
war was said to grow out of hi!
conviction that the American rec
ords proved otherwise.
Mr.. Hull is understood to hav,
been convinced at the time of tn,
critical 194l negotiations that tn,
japanese were making only a las
effort to see if they could get th'
United States to surrender its long
established policies in the Pacifi
and give Japan free rein for con.
quest there.
Other high officials here are sale
to have shared his conviction ther
that whenever the Japanese re
allied failure of this effort the,
would attack the United States a
i; their leisure. regardless of an!
agreements with which we might at
tempt to stall them.
Felt War Was Imminent.
Mr.. Hull is reported to have EN-
phasized conversations with friend
that he and the Army and Nav,
heads kept in almost hourly toucl
during the summer and fall of 1941
with fullknowledge that there wa
not more than one chance in ESQ
; that peaceful arrangements coul'
be made with the japanese.
1t appeared possible that an,
public statement from Mr.. Hull OF
his activities In the light of the Arm,
and Navy Board reports would avail
the likely congressional hearings.
, A number of Republican ant
| Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill
, declared Congress would start it
own investigation of Pearl Harbo
. unless courts martial are ordered OF
the basis of reports of Army an,
| II l.