This telephone exchange, between Japan's emissary in Washington and the Head of American Division of Japanese Foreign Office, took place on the 26th of November, 1941 - twelve days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
[Secret]
From: Washington
To: Tokyo
26 November 1941 (1946 to 1953 EST)
(Telephone Code)**
Trans-Pacific Telephone
To Kumaicho Yamamoto* from Kurusu:
Kurusu: "I have made all efforts, but they will not yield.*** I sent a cable expressing my opinions to the Foreign Minister this morning. The situation is just like that. Otherwise there is no means of accomplishing it. I shall cable you now. Already," he interrupted himself, "you have a general understanding I imagine. Accordingly, I do not know how things will turn out regarding my meeting with the President. Hull is not making much progress it seems."
Apparently referring to the above mentioned cable he continued: "If that method can be worked out I shall work night and day on it. But there is no other means we can use. It is very regrettable."
Yamamoto: "The situation in Tokyo is extremely critical also." After thanking Kurusu for his efforts he continued: "The proposition sent to the Foreign Minister is extremely difficult."
Kurusu: "I believe it is of no avail".
Yamamoto reiterated his opinion regarding its difficulty.
Kurusu: "I rather imagine you had expected this outcome."
Yamamoto: "Yes, I had expected it, but wished to exert every effort up to the final moment in the hope that something might be accomplished. "
Kurusu: "I am unable to make any movement (i.e. progress?) at all. Something will have to be done to get out of this situation."
25349
JD-1: 6843
(M)-Navy Trans. 11-26-41 (12-TT)
*Head of American Division of Japanese Foreign Office.
**See JD-1: 6841, (S.I.S. #25344), of this date.
***Interpretation is doubtful as yet. The intercepter read this as "Sore . . . kesa" (that . . . this morning) and translated this as "It is now . . .", with a distinct pause before and after this phrase. However, the telephone code was not available to him. Verification will follow receipt of record.
Credits
EXHIBITS OF JOINT COMMITTEE , EXHIBIT NO. 1 INTERCEPTED DIPLOMATIC MESSAGES SENT BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT BETWEEN JULY l AND DECEMBER 8, 1941
Online, courtesy U.S. National Archives.
