Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, The Far East, Volume IV

740.0011 Pacific War/22

The Director of Naval Intelligence (Anderson) to the Chief of Naval Operations (Stark)²⁷

Op–16–F–2

Washington, October 16, 1940.

Subject: Japanese Plans to Seize the Dutch East Indies.

1. Highly reliable information has been received that commencing about 26 September and continuing until the present time, the Japanese Foreign Office is being advised by their Ambassadors in the United States, Great Britain and by the heads of their Missions in the Dutch East Indies, to take steps to effect the military seizure of the Dutch East Indies at the earliest opportunity.

2. It is particularly noteworthy that Ambassador Horinouchi, at Washington, has advised his government that the United States is incapable of taking action at the present time to prevent Japanese seizure of the Dutch possessions in the Far East and that no time should be lost in effecting such a seizure. The Japanese Consul General at Batavia has on two recent occasions urged the early seizure of the Dutch possessions by Japan and this advice is echoed by the diplomatic head of the Japanese Economic Mission that is now in the East Indies. Within the last few days the Japanese Ambassador at London has added his advice to those urging early action to seize the Dutch East Indies.

W. S. Anderson

27. Copy transmitted to the Department; original sent to President Roosevelt’s Naval Aide.