Evening star., 1945-11-23
Hull Testifies He Warned Jops Were Poised
For Surprise Attack Anywhere, at Any Time
CONTINUED From First Page.)


the background and where to find
the material needed. AS far as can
observe, I consider it accurate
Mr.. Hull added that he would not
under any circumstances want there
to be any doubt that it was his state
ment and he stood by it. -
Hull Faces Questioning.
The statesman then was excused
to return at pm. to be questioned
by the committee. 1t was 1887
pm. before Mr.. Gessel finished
reading the statement.
In the long formal statement, Mr.
Hull said of the final Japanese pro-
posal. the ultimatu tum of Novem-
ber %:
THE plan thus offered called for
the supplying by the United States
to Japan of as much oil as Japan
might require, for suspension of
freezing (aSsets) measures, for dis
continuance by the United States of
aid to China and for withdrawal of
moral and material support from the
recognized Chinese government.
1T contains a provision that ia
pan would shift her armed forces
from Southern Indo-China to
Northern Indo- China, but placed no
limit on the number of armed forces
which Japan might send to Indo-
China and made no provision for
withdrawal of those forces until
after either the restoration of peace
between Japan and China or the
establishment of an equitable peace
in the Pacific area
No Antiaggression Pledgs.
while there were stipulationS
against further extension of Japan S
armed forces into Southeastern Asia
and the Southern Pacific Except
Indo-China), there were no proviS-
ions which would have prevented
continued or fresh japanese aggreS-
sive activities in any of the regions
of Asia lying to the north of 1ndo-
China-for example, China and the
Soviet Unionf The proposal con-
tained no provision pledging Japan
to abandon aggression and to revert
to peaceful courses"
Regarding the cabinet meeting of
November + at which he warned
against Japanese attack, Mr. Hull
stated:
1T was the Presidents custom either
to start off the discussion himself or
to ask some member of the cabinet
a question. At this time he turned
to me and asked whether l had any,
thing in mind. thereupon pointed
out for about Is minutes the dangers
in the international situation. I went
over fully developments in the con-
versations with Japan and empha-
sized that in my opinion relations
were extremely critical and that we
should be on the lookout for a mill
tary attack anywhere by Japan at
any time.
When 1 had finished the Presi-
dent went around the cabinet. All
concurred in my estimate of the
dangers. 1t became the consensus of
the cabinet that the critical situa-
ton might well be emphasized in
speeches in order that the country
would, if possible, be prepared for
such development.
Accordingly, Secretary of the
Navy Knox delivered an address on
November IL in which he stated that
4we@were not only, confronted with
the necessity of extreme measures OF
self-defense in the Atlantic, but we
were likewise faced with grim pos
SibilitieS on the other side of the
World-on the far side of the Pa
ciffe, and that the Pacific no less
than the Atlantic called for instant
readiness for, defense.
Public Warned by Welles.
"On the same day, Undersecre-
tary of State WelleS in an address
stated that beoynd the Atlantic a
sinister and pitiless conqueror had
reduced more than half of Europe
to abject serfdom and that in the
Far East the same forces of conquest
were menacing the safety of all ma
tions bordering on the Pacific, ano
that" the Secretary recalled, "'al
any moment war may be forced
upon us. >"
Describing the conversations with
japanese Ambassador Nomura anc
Special Envoy Kurusu and the back.
ground of Japan's relations with
America and other countries, Mr.
Hull said:
In the light of Japan's past ane
current record and in view of thu
wide Emergencies between the poll.
cies which the United States anc
Japan had been pursuing in the Fal
East, I estimated from the outse
that there was not one chance II
20 or one in so or even one in 1O(
OF reaching peaceful settlement
Existing treaties relating to the
Far East were adequate, provided
the signatory governments lived ur
to them. We were, therefore, mo-
calling for new agreements. But i
there was chance that new agree.
ments could contribute to peace il
the Pacific, the President and I be.
lieved that we should not neglec
that possibility, slim as it was.
I'VE had in mind doing every
thing we could to bring about {
peaceful, fair and stabilizing settle
ment of the situation Throughout
the Pacific area. Such a course wa
in accordance with the traditiona
attitudes and beliefs of the Amer
lean people Moreover, the Presi
dent and I constantly had yer,
much in mind the advice of ou
highest military authorizes, who KEEP
emphasizing to us the imperativ
need of having time to build VI
preparations for defense vital no
only to the United States, but t
many other countries resisting ag
gression. Our decision to enter tn
conversations with the Japanese wa
therefore in line with our need t
rearm for self defense"
"No Chip on Shoulder"
The former Secretary pointed out
"The President and I fully realize
that the japanese government coul
not, even if it wished, bring abou
an abrupt Transformation in Japan
course of aggression. We realize
that so much was involved in re
construction of Japan's position tina