Evening star., 1945-12-04
u. S. Feared japanese Attack
On ThoiIond;; ;;Rooseve|tWorned
Aggression Would Mean War
British Given Means
Of Breaking Code
In January, 1941
BY J. A. O'LEARY and
CARTER BROOKE JONES.

The congressional investigat-
ing committee. piecing together
the full story of Pearl Harbor,
reported these high lights today:
/. The belief was expressed at a
conference in Gen. George c. Mar
shalls Office on the morning of De-
cember 7. 194l, that the japanese
would attack Thailand. Hawaii was
aforementioned.
2. The late President Roosevelt
sent message to the High Commis-
sioner of the Philippines on Novem-
ber 26, 1941, suggesting that Japan's
next move probably would be against
Thailand and might cause an out
break of hostilities between the
United States and Japan"
Secret Given Britain.
3. The United States in January,
1941-l1 months before Pearl Har-
bor-gave Great Britain the secret
means of breaking the japanese
code.
4. A warning message, sent to
Hawaii on orders of Gen. Marshall,
which went over commercial radio
instead of the Army communica-
tions system, was delivered to the
signal officer in Honolulu by IAN
Oriental messenger"
5. A controversy arose at the hear
ing over the presentation of evil
dence. Representative Gearhart,
Republican, of California COM
planned that the evidence was be-
ing spoon fed"
These developments came on the
heels of the disclosure by Senator
Ferguson, Republican, of Michigan
that Gen. Douglas Macarthur, then
Philippine commander, had the
means of DECIDING intercepted Sc
cret japanese messages without
waiting to get translations from
Washington. Senator Ferguson said
he obtained this information from
the report of Vice Admiral Henry
K. Hewitt, who made "a followup!
investigation of the findings of the
Navy Board of Inquiry last year.
Ferguson Questions Miles.
Assj. Gen. Sherman Miles, former
chiel of Army intelligence, told Sem
ator ferguson he knew what in
formal. On Gen. Macarthur was get
ting frC p here, but did not know
facilities TOR DECIDING were available
in the Pl nippines.
Earlier, cross examination of Gen.
Miles developed that the confer
ence of Army officials in the Office
of Gen. Marshall, the Chief of Staff
on the fateful morning of Decem-
Der 7, took place two hours before
news of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Representative Gearhart ham,
mered away at Gen. Miles in an
effort to draw an admission that
the Army officers considered the
significance of the fact that l pm.
in Washington-the hour set for
delivery of the Japanese note
would be dawn at Pearl Harbor.
Gen. Miles insisted, however, he
did not remember that point being
stressed, adding: 1--WE were trying
to guess where the trouble would
come, but trying only to get out the
warning to all stations"
November 26 Message.~
The Roosevelt message of Novem-
Der 26 to the high commissioner of
the Philippines was to have been
introduced later when 1t. Gen.
Leonard T. Gerow takes the stand.
according to Committee Counsel
Gerhard Gesell Senator Ferguson
brought it up today, however, in
questioning Gen. Miles as to what
was known in the Philippines that
may not have been known at other
stations. The message was sent
through Admiral Harold R. Stark.
chief of naval operations, and read
as follows.
From: the President.
For: High Commissioner, Philip
pines.
"A copy of a dispatch will be de-
'livered to you by Admiral Hart.
which with my approval, the CNOa
and COS addressed to the senior
Army and Navy commanders in the
Philippines. In addition you are
advised that the japanese are
strongly reinforcing their garrisons
and naval forces in the mandates in