740.0011 P. W./570: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
London, October
18, 1941—4 p.m.
[Received October 18—3:45 p.m.]
4979. For the Secretary and Under Secretary. A high official of the
Foreign Office today handed an Embassy official the following memorandum
of a plan for quick communication in the event of an [Page 525] emergency in the Far East, the need of
which was realized following the staff talks at Singapore. He expressed
the hope that we would place a corresponding plan into effect without
delay:
- “1. In the present situation in the Far East a threat from
Japan might easily develop with very little warning and it
is not possible to determine in advance what type of action
by Japan would necessarily call for military counteraction.
The British authorities concerned have accordingly been
studying the problem of reducing to a minimum the delay
which might be caused in such an eventuality by the
necessity of intergovernmental consultation. A further
problem has been to ensure that all British authorities
concerned are simultaneously and immediately warned when a
dangerous situation arises.
- 2. The procedure which has been devised is outlined below.
It is intended to be brought into immediate effect should
any one of the authorities concerned receive information
indicating that Japan is about to take or has taken action
which in his view may necessitate immediate military
countermeasures. The authorities in question are the four
Commanders in Chief, i. e., Far East, China, East Indies and
India; the Governors of Burma, Hong Kong, and Fiji; His
Majesty’s representatives at Tokyo, Chungking, Shanghai,
Bangkok, and Washington.
- 3. In the eventuality contemplated, any such authority
would at once telegraph, by the quickest possible method, a
code word of warning to London. He would follow this
preliminary warning by a second telegram reporting the facts
on which he considered it necessary to base his
warning.
- 4. Any telegram sent under the above procedure would be
repeated by the sender to all the authorities enumerated in
paragraph 2 above and also to the Governments of Canada, New
Zealand, the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Union of
South Africa.
- 5. Special arrangements have been made in London for any
telegram sent under this system to be immediately dealt with
by the highest political and military authorities.
- 6. His Majesty’s Governments in the Dominions are being
invited to introduce analogous arrangements.
- 7. On the receipt in London of telegrams of the nature
contemplated in paragraph 3 above, the Foreign Office will
notify both the United States Ambassador and the Netherlands
Government by the speediest possible means.
- 8. It is hoped that the United States and Netherland
authorities will be willing to consider the introduction of
corresponding arrangements whereby any information of
threatening action by Japan which the United States or
Netherland authorities in the Far East may receive may be
immediately communicated not only to London but also on a
basis of reciprocity to the British Commander in Chief Far
East through the most appropriate channel.
- 9. It is emphasized that the procedure proposed is merely
one of urgent reporting. A decision as to action must, of
course, lie with the Governments concerned.”
