861.00/6113: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 12—3:35 a.m.]
12. I have just received from General Graves, in answer to an inquiry from me, the following telegram:
“Orders received from the War Department on January 7 to move all troops to (Manila?) as fast as transports are available. Troops are now being concentrated at Vladivostok and transports are en route. The first contingent leaves January 12 and the second January 14. I presumed that you had been notified by the State Department of this.”
If General Graves has interpreted his orders correctly, our sudden action, without any previous notice to the Japanese Government, is [Page 493] a stunning blow to Japanese pride as well as to all liberal and pro-American influence here and will have, I fear, far reaching effects.