XV. INTERCEPTED JAPANESE COMMUNICATIONS OF NOVEMBER 26th  AND 27th

 

On November 26th  and 27th, there were available in Washington additional intercepted Japanese messages, all of which had been sent from Tokyo, as follows:

(1) Navy translation on November 27, 1941 (Document 14; Exhibit 63) of a message to Nanking, dated 15 November 1941, in the so‑called "Purple" code, addressed to "Naval authorities" which stated:

"We are now in the midst of very serious negotiations and have not reached an agreement as yet. As the time limit is near please have them (defer?) for a while."

(2) A Navy translation on November 26, 1941 (Document 13, Exhibit 63) of a message to Washington, dated 19 November 1941, stating that:

"When our diplomatic relations are becoming dangerous, we will add the follow­ing at the beginning and end of our general intelligence broadcasts:

 

"(1) if it is Japan‑U. S. relations, "HIGASHI",

"(2) Japan‑Russia relations, "KITA",

"(3) Japan‑British relations, (including Thai, Malaya and N. E. I.), "NISHI"

 

"The above will be repeated five times and included at beginning and end. Relay to Rio de Janeiro; Buenos Aires, Mexico City, San Francisco."

(3) An Army translation on November 26, 1941 (Document 9, Exhibit 68) of a message to Manila, dated November 20, 1941, in the "Purple" code, marked "Strictly Secret" and stating:

"Please advise immediately the results of your investigations as to the type of draft—presumed to be in the waters adjacent to Subic Bay. (Near Manila, P. I.)

"Furthermore, please transmit these details to the Asama Maru as well as to Tokyo."

(4) An Army translation on November 26, 1941 (Document 12, Exhibit 63) of a message to Washington, dated November 26, 1941, in the "Purple" code, which stated:

"To be handled in Government Code.

"The situation is momentarily becoming more tense and telegrams take too long. Therefore, will you cut down the substance of your reports of negotiations to the minimum and, on occasion, call up Chief YAMAMOTO of the American Bureau on the telephone and make your request to him. At that time we will use the following code: (Codes were then set forth.)"