793.94/10975
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)
I called on Admiral Richardson74 at the Navy Department in reference to Admiral Yarnell’s telegrams to the Navy Department 0026–1620 [Page 647] and 0026–2105 of October 26 on the subject indicated above.75 I told Admiral Richardson that Mr. Hull had asked me to call. I said that for the purpose of what I had to say it was not necessary to raise the question as to the merits of the order issued by Admiral Yarnell but that the Secretary of State felt that the giving of publicity to such an order operated to create serious embarrassment to the Secretary of State in the moderate course which he was endeavoring to follow in foreign relations. I said that Admiral Richardson was aware of public sentiment in the United States and of the effect of sensational newspaper reports in regard to such orders on such sentiment, particularly on the sentiment which favored adoption by the American Government of a “storm-cellar” isolationist attitude. I said that such publicity played into the hands of critics of the course which the Administration was pursuing. I referred to the fact that when Admiral Yarnell had issued certain previous orders and sensational publicity in the American press had resulted, the President in one instance had spoken to the Secretary of State in regard to the matter. I told Admiral Richardson that in view of all these various factors Mr. Hull felt that, if Admiral Yarnell could not be directed to refrain from giving publicity to such matters, Mr. Hull would have to lay the whole matter before the President for decision.
Admiral Richardson said that he appreciated Mr. Hull’s position in the matter, and that he thought that Admiral Yarnell did not take into account public sentiment in this country and the effect upon the public here of publicity of this type. Admiral Richardson said that Admiral Leahy76 was returning to Washington tonight and that he would speak to Admiral Leahy about this matter the first thing tomorrow morning with a view to the Navy Department sending a telegram to Admiral Yarnell directing him not to give publicity in regard to such matters.
October 29
On October 29, Admiral Leahy telephoned me and said that he had discussed the matter with the Secretary of the Navy; that the Navy Department felt that Admiral Yarnell had a great many troubles of his own; that the Navy Department did not wish to send him an instruction along the lines which we wished to have sent; but that the Navy Department would send a message if the State Department insisted. Admiral Leahy offered to come to the Department to discuss the matter with me. I suggested that I first refer the matter to Mr. Welles.
[Page 648]I then told Mr. Welles of my conversation with Admiral Leahy and stated that the Navy Department did not view the matter as did this Department.
The next morning, October 30, Mr. Welles spoke to the President over the telephone in regard to the matter and the President stated that in his opinion the Navy Department should send a telegram to Admiral Yarnell asking Admiral Yarnell to endeavor to avoid publicity in regard to such matters. Mr. Welles thereupon telephoned to Admiral Leahy and Admiral Leahy said that the Navy Department would send such a message.
- Admiral J. O. Richardson, Assistant Chief of Naval Operations.↩
- Admiral Yarnell’s instructions for firing in self-defense; see vol. iv, p. 370.↩
- Admiral William D. Leahy, Chief of Naval Operations.↩