MESSAGE #043
Date: January 30, 1941
FROM: Tokyo (Matsuoka)
TO: Washington(Koshi)
Foreign Office secret.
Heretofore, we have
placed emphasis on publicity and propaganda work in the United States.
In view of the critical situation in the recent relations between the
two countries, and for the purpose of being prepared for the worst,
we have decided to alter this policy. Taking into consideration the
small amount of funds we have at our disposal, we have decided to deemphasize
propaganda for the time being, and instead, to strengthen our intelligence
work.
Though we must give
the matter of intelligence work our further study--in this connection
we are at present conferring with the intelligence bureau--we have mapped
out a fundamental program, the outline of which is contained in my supplementary
cable No. 44.
Please, therefore,
reorganize your intelligence set-up and put this new program into effect
as soon as possible.
Cable copies of this
message, as "Minister's orders" to Canada, Mexico, (a copy
to be relayed from Mexico to Mexicali), San Francisco, (copies from
San Francisco to Honolulu, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver),
New York, New Orleans, and Chicago.
MESSAGE #44
Date: January 30, 1941
FROM: Tokyo (Matsuoka)
TO: Washington (Koshi)
(In two parts complete).
(Foreign Office secret).
(1) Establish an intelligence
organ in the Embassy which will maintain liaison with private and semi-official
intelligence organs (see my message to Washington #591 and #732 from
New York to Tokyo, both of last year's series).
With regard to this,
we are holding discussions with the various circles involved at the
present time.
(2) The focal point
of our investigations shall be the determination of the total strength
of the U.S. Our investigations shall be divided into three general classifications:
political, economic, and military, and definite course of action shall
be mapped out.
(3) Make a survey
of all persons or organizations which either openly or secretly oppose
participation in the war.
(4) Make investigations
of all anti-Semitism, communism, movements of Negroes, and labor movements.
(5) Utilization of
U.S. citizens of foreign extraction (other than Japanese), aliens (other
than Japanese), communists, Negroes, labor union members, and anti-Semites,
in carrying out the investigations described in the preceding paragraph
would undoubtedly bear the best results.
These men, moreover,
should have access to governmental establishments, (laboratories?),
governmental organizations of various characters, factories, and transportation
facilities.
(6) Utilization of
our "Second Generations" and our resident nationals. (In view
of the fact that if there is any slip in this phase, our people in the
U.S. will be subjected to considerable persecution, and the utmost caution
must be exercised).
(7) In the event of
U.S. participation in the war, our intelligence set-up will be moved
to Mexico, making that country the nerve center of our intelligence
net. Therefore, will you bear this in mind and in anticipation of such
an eventuality, set up facilities for a U.S.-Mexico international intelligence
route. This net which will cover Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru
will also be centered in Mexico.
(8) We shall cooperate
with the German and Italian intelligence organs in the U.S. This phase
has been discussed with the Germans and Italians in Tokyo, and it has
been approved.
Please get the details
from Secretary Terasaki upon his assuming his duties there.
Please send copies
to those offices which were on the distribution list of No. 43.