894.8591/1
The Acting Secretary of the Navy (Roosevelt) to the Secretary of State
Sir: An increasing number of reports received by this Department indicate the importation into Japan of large amounts of raw materials essential for belligerent activities.
Should Japan have any belligerent intentions, it is believed that an early indication of the initiation of hostile acts would be the quiet and unheralded concentration of Japanese shipping in home ports, both, in order to prevent seizure or possible internment, and also to provide the necessary tonnage for any movements overseas.
In order to obtain as early an indication as possible of such a concentration, it is requested that all Consular Offices be instructed to check and compare carefully all movements of Japanese vessels with the published schedules of their movements, in order to detect any marked deviations which might reveal a concentration of this nature. The published schedules of movements of Japanese vessels are believed to be obtainable from the local offices of their steamship companies or shipping agents at the stations of the Consular Offices.
It will be appreciated if all such movements, and any analyses of them that may be made showing any trend toward concentration, be forwarded to this Department as soon after their discovery as may be practicable.
Respectfully,