Newly Declassified Memo Reveals Roosevelt Was Warned of Tokyo’s Focus on Hawaii

Gateway Pundit ^ | November 29,2011 | Jim Hoft

[Hojczyk]

A newly released memo revealed that President Roosevelt was warned that Tokyo was focused on Hawaii days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Washington Whispers reported:

Three days before the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt was warned in a memo from naval intelligence that Tokyo’s military and spy network was focused on Hawaii, a new and eerie reminder of FDR’s failure to act on a basket load of tips that war was near.

In the newly revealed 20-page memo from FDR’s declassified FBI file, the Office of Naval Intelligence on December 4 warned, “In anticipation of open conflict with this country, Japan is vigorously utilizing every available agency to secure military, naval and commercial information, paying particular attention to the West Coast, the Panama Canal and the Territory of Hawaii.”

The memo, published in the new book December 1941: 31 Days that Changed America and Saved the World went on to say that the Japanese were collecting “detailed technical information” that would be specifically used by its navy. To collect and analyze information, they were building a network of spies through their U.S. embassies and consulates.

Historian and acclaimed Reagan biographer Craig Shirley, author of the just released December 1941, doesn’t blame FDR for blowing it, but instead tells Whispers that it “does suggest that there were more pieces to the puzzle” that the administration missed.

[ASA Vet]

must be a great supply of these heretofore undiscovered memos hidden somewhere. ;-)

They are ra_ther easy to create. Just ask Dan.

[GATOR NAVY]

As it was, the newer battleships never got into a one-on-one encounter with the main Japanese battleships and cruisers.

Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 14-15 Nov 1942-USS Washington (BB-56) and USS South Dakota (BB-57) plus DDs intercept and engage Japanese force consisting of BB Kirishima, CAs Atago and Takao, CLs and DDs. South Dakota heavily damaged, Washington sinks Kirishima with 16" and 5" gunfire.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

In 1935, according to a couple documents I found in the National Archives, the Japanese were buying commercial shipping lane maps for the West Coast.

ONI noted that this was normal because of the trade they did with the US, but that they would keep an eye on it.

Never did find any followup docs.

Just one more instance of a distant clue of Japanese intentions which were largely ignored by the White House.