The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1945-09-13
THROUGH
HAZEL
EYES
~ HAZEL

John T. Flynn, author of 1.-THE
Truth About Pearl Harbor", has
written a second article on this most
shameful chapter in the history of
the American nation.
We think the truth should be told
about Pearl Harbor and the blame
placed upon the proper officials,
dead or living. We believe they
should be made to suffer disgrace
for having failed to live up to their
duties and responsibilities. It should
be thus recorded in u history
books so that never again will
America be caught mapping.
Pearl Harbor should not be writ
ten off our books lightly. The lives
Of over three thousand Americans
protest it. In all decency the least we
can do is place responsibility for our
defeat there.
Mr.. Flynn's article we reprint
herewith:
At 8 o'clock Saturday, Dec. 8,
l94l-the night before Pearl Har-
bor-the American government was
in possession Of the full text Of q
note which the Japanese government
had sent to it, diplomats in Wash
ington. It was the fatal note which
formally broke off relations between
the United States and Japan and
was the signal for the first blow.
The United States government had
somehow come into possession Of
this most sensational piece Of infor-
nation which was to surprise" gov
eminent leaders so much the next
day. The hour at which the Japanese
were to present the note was not
then known. The ENJOYS were to
present it to Secretary of State Hull.
They did, in fact, present it on the
next day.
In his official statement last week,
Secretary of War Stimson said his
department received information on
Dec. 6 as to what the Japanese reply
to the settlement overtures Of the
United States would be and that this
reply indicated an immediate sever
ance of diplomatic relations.
Text on Roossvslt's Desk
At 10 p. m. of Dec. 6 the message
was on the desk of Franklin d.
Roosevelt, then President. The late
Naval Secretary Knox read it a.
round 10 p. m.
Knox t~elephoned to Hull who call
ed a conference for the next morn
Knox, Stimson, 1t. Comdr. Kramer
and 1t. Col. Bratton to attend.
Consider the situation that night.
The President, the secretary OF the
navy, and the secretary Of state not
only knew that relations with the
United States were about to be
severed by Japan, but they had the
full text Of the Japanese note in
hand l6 hours before it was present
ed. Yet the note Or news OF 1t was
not given to Gen. Marshall, chief OF
staff. nor to Adm. Harold r. Stark,
chief of naval operations.
Stimson in his report said evidence
showed that a subordinate officer IN
ca. who had received the message
on Dec. 6, did not deliver it to the
secretary of the general staff for the
chief of staff, the executive officer
for the assistant chief of staff, G-2,
until after 9 o'clock on the morning
of Dec. 7.
Conference Il Called
A conference was called for the
morning of Dec. 7. But neither Mar
shall nor Stark was asked to attend
it. Still stranger, 1t. Comdr. Kram-
err, asked to attend the conference
next day, was told not to give Stark
his CODY of the critical message UNI
til morning. There still were no or
ders to change the alert (prepara-
tons against sabotage) which was
in force at Pearl Harbor.
The President and his secretaries
knew everything now-everything
save the hour at which the fateful
note meaning war would be present
ed. They knew that must come swift
". Yet they withheld the informa-
ton from the chiefs of the army and
navy. Would you not suppose they
would be the first to be told and
that the information would be hur-
ried by the quickest means to
Hawaii and the Philippines?
Cries This Meuns Won"
The next morning-Sunday-Adm.
Stark. because of the tense situation,
went to his office. There he found
the now completed copy of the
Japanese note.
my Cod, he cried, this means
war. I must get word to Kimmel
Rear Aom. Husband E. kimmel,
navy commander at Hawaio at
npcao For some reason hat WORD