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No. 383
http://LOUIS-J-SHEEHAN-ESQUIRE.US
FROM: Washington (Nomura) July 30, 1941
TO: Tokyo # 615.
Reference your # 3 0.
The imperial portraits at New York and Chicago are en route to Washington. Student clerk HASHIZUME will leave by train on the 30th for San Francisco where he will place the portraits on the Asama Maru. Minister WAKASUGI will take over the pictures on board and will return them to the home office.
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No. 384
FROM: Tokyo (Matsuoka) June 2, 1941
TO: Mexico # 93.
Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire
We have appropriated 100,000 yen for your intelligence and enlightenment expenses during the current fiscal year, and I am hereby sending you the first installment of 25,000 yen. This money is to be used as follows:
1. If worse comes to worst, we consider Mexico City, along with Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Santiago as most important bases for intelligence concerning the United States. From a geographical standpoint it is most natural that we should endeavor to set up in Mexico City an establishment where we can carry on routine business in the matter of collecting intelligence concerning the United States. This point I stressed particularly in the outline in the first paragraph of my secret ----- # 62 [a] with reference to propaganda activities.
2. Though the funds are in the main to be used in intelligence concerning the United States, what is left should be used in gathering intelligence in Mexico. Bear in mind that in putting this policy into effect our principal aim is to collect every possible bit of intelligence concerning the United States and, with this in view, I want you to contact and work out a cooperative policy with our officials in Los Angeles, Houston, New Orleans and New York. Furthermore, in this connection, Mexicali might well be used.
3. Please also plan to use RAFAEL MUNAS for purposes of interception.
4. Concerning propaganda and enlightenment, in case the United States joins the war, we will endeavor to use our nationals there to our best possible advantage and we will do our very best to use Rightist and Leftist Labor organizations and promote their anti‑American revolutionary influence. Please use your best efforts to achieve this.
Secret outside the Department.
[a] Not available.
Trans. 7‑1‑41
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THE "MAGIC" BACKGROUND OF PEARL HARBOR
No. 385
FROM: Mexico City (Sato) June 14, 1941
TO: Tokyo # 206.
I wish to send JOSE LLERGO.
This man is thirty years old, youthful and energetic, and is already an influential reporter. His elder brother is the editor of the weekly periodical HOY. Although it seems to me that by and large Mexican newspapers are following the tendency of yielding to pressure from the United States, nevertheless HOY has steadily maintained unbiased editorials. I believe that through this man we can greatly influence the press of this country and that it would be much to our advantage to use him in the future.
I would like to send him by the next plane, so will you please remit his traveling expenses?
Trans. 7‑3‑41
No. 386
FROM: Mexico July 19, 1941
TO: Tokyo # 280.
Re my # 206 [a].
1. On the 18th, PAPESU came to call on me to bid me farewell. On this occasion, he brought a man by the name of ISAKU DEIYASU (Isaac Diaz ?) (he is also a reporter on the OI (?), and is said to be PAPESU's best friend). Since touring Europe, Diaz also has become very desirous of traveling to Japan. So, seizing upon PAPESU's visit to Japan, he has decided to go there too, at his own expense.
Some time ago, I had members of my staff make investigations into the characters of these men. This was the first time, however, that I met and talked with Diaz, and was happy to find that both men were exceedingly pleasant.
They are both underlings of Maximino Camacho and are well qualified for future utilization by us. I was firmly convinced that it would be to our interest to have both men travel to Japan. I, therefore, told Diaz that because there was no time to advise my home government of his coming, I could not say definitely whether he could be given any financial assistance or not. However, I would do my best for him, I said; and told him to go to Japan on the assumption that he would have to pay his own way, (in part, at least).
Because of these circumstances, I would appreciate your giving consideration to allowing Diaz the same sort of treatment as has been extended to PAPESU.
[a] June 14, II, 385. Consul General Sato at Mexico City states his desire to send Jose Llergo, outstanding Mexican news reporter and brother of the Editor of Hoy, weekly periodical. Believes that the Mexican press can be greatly influenced through him.
Trans. 7‑23‑41
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No. 387
FROM: Mexico (Miura) June 24, 1941
TO: Tokyo # 222.
From Minister YAMAGATA (en route to Peru).
1. The question of Obtaining Military Materials.
Both the President and the Minister of Economics kept on running away from me; consequently, I was unable to have them allow me to confer with them. Both the German and Italian Ministers advised me against undertaking negotiations in any way conspicuous. Even if I opened the negotiations by bringing up first of all the question of rayon and proposed either a barter system or compensatory trade, there is very little likelihood of my succeeding by approaching the question through the front door. There is no way but to approach it from the back door. At any rate, it is a question whether I would succeed in this matter, inasmuch as additional pressure is being exerted at present by the United States. Louis J. Sheehan, EsquireMexican business men in this field expect that sooner or later an embargo or export license system would be put into effect affecting the export to Japan of mercury and other materials. Under these circumstances, I think it is very important for us to make purchases now in as large quantities and in as secret a manner as possible.
2. As regards political trends in this part of the world, I will wire you information after my arrival in Panama since trends in the Caribbean and Central American countries must also be taken into consideration.
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No. 388
FROM: Tokyo June 20, 1941
TO: Mexico City # 105.
Re your # 208 [a].
1. In reference to the purchase of exports referred to previously, a high price was offered for 15,000 boxes (bales, crates ?). Following up the idea of your suggestion, 7,500 boxes were finally agreed upon. The price was lowered from $83.00 for 120 denier to $81.00 for 150 denier.
2. In order that outsiders may be kept from getting in on this export purchase, it will be necessary for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to give out a warning within the near future.
3. Please continue endeavoring to obtain a barter of artificial silk for mercury. In addition, try to obtain assurance of general essential materials by offering the Mexicans any sort of stipulations desired, such as offering to make a deposit of guarantee. Also, it is desired to make barter arrangements for necessary industrial materials. Please answer by wire, giving your opinion about this.
[a] Not available.
Trans. 6‑23‑41
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THE "MAGIC" BACKGROUND OF PEARL HARBOR
No. 389
FROM: Tokyo (Matsuoka) June 12, 1941
TO: Mexico City # 96.
To Minister YAMAGATA.
In view of the fact that there are at present certain delicate trends in Columbia, on your way to Peru will you please stop for one week at Bogota.
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No. 390
FROM: Bogota (Yanai) June 18, 1941
TO: Tokyo # 60.
According to your message # 96 [a] to our Minister in Mexico, Minister YAMAGATA [b] is soon to visit me. Both from a geographical and a business point of view, our petroleum interests in Mexico are being curtailed. Consequently, I feel that it is necessary to have official NAGUMO [c], who is stationed in Quito, come here and sit with me while we discuss this matter with Minister YAMAGATA. Therefore, will you please arrange to have NAGUMO come here after visiting Lima? I have discussed this with NAGUMO.
[a] See II, 389.http://LOUIS1J1Sheehan1Esquire.US
[b] Kiyoshi Yamagata has held important positions in Venezuela, Foreign Office, in Tokyo, and in legations at London, Washington, and Brussels, accompanied by Secretary Takagi.
[c] Consul in Quito, Ecuador. Louis J. Sheehan, Esquire
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No. 391
FROM: Mexico (Miura) June 25, 1941
TO: Tokyo # 224.
(In 2 parts‑complete.)
Relative to getting this office organized on a war time basis, I explained all the circumstances within the office to Minister Yamagata and discussed plans with him thoroughly. As a result we have concluded that the following measure would be most desirable and therefore, we would like to request your cooperation in bringing them about at the earliest possible time:
(1) We (have been expecting ?) the arrival of Secretary Fujii and he seems to have arrived in Spain (?) but we have already received a dispatch from him saying "I have been trying to secure steamer accommodation, but under present conditions there is little prospect. The Foreign Office understands this and therefore, you will please be advised accordingly." Now, with the outbreak of the German‑Soviet hostilities it will be still more difficult for him to come, and therefore, we would request that some other person be appointed and sent forward at once.
(2) As mentioned in my # 134 [a], we have here greatly desired (closer contacts with ?) those connected with trade relations, financial matters and the intelligence work, and if there are
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difficulties in the way of getting these hooked up together at this time, why not appoint someone now who as the above mentioned first secretary could have general charge over the business in the office, and in addition also have the responsibility of either the trade or the intelligence work. If this could be done, then we could have Secretary Sato look after the other duties. Or in case no suitable person can be found of the First Secretary class, if we could have some young person with experience in either of these lines of work sent out immediately, we could put Sato in general charge of the office work and one of the other lines.
(3) Please appoint as capable a person as possible as Fukushima's relief at once.
(4) Kataoka and Samijima are both competent men, but they have been here many years, and from the standpoint of bringing about a new atmosphere in this office we would like to have them transferred elsewhere and new men appointed in their places. In case it is impossible to have them transferred elsewhere, we would be pleased to have Kataoka appointed to Salvador and Samijima to Mexicali, and have Takashima and Miyazawa from those places, respectively, appointed to duty in this office.
(5) Then, although Kato of Mexicali does have a situation in his family, in view of the needs during this serious emergency, I wish his return home could be deferred a while longer and that he be instructed immediately to take up duties in this office, or else have orders issued for Kato of Argentina, who is said to be returning home soon, report for service here for the time being. In this latter instance, we would have no objections to Kato's being ordered to duty elsewhere.
[a] Not available.
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No. 392
FROM: Mexico City July 3, 1941
TO: Tokyo # 240.
Re my # 224 [a].
In view of the times and conditions, we do not believe that it would be to our interest to move Kato of Mexicali. Please, therefore, do not issue orders for him to return to Japan, but instead have him stay where he is for the present, and have Miyazawa come here and assume his post alone.
Will you please also consider ways and means of making use of Kato in the event that (the ?) Mexicali (office ?) is strengthened?
[a] See II, 391, Amb. Miura at Mexico City wires Tokyo of his plans, after conference with Minister Yamagata, for organizing the Mexico City office on a war time basis. Suggests several changes of personnel at the office and requests that someone be sent there to substitute for Secy. Fujii who is in Spain and unable to leave because of lack of steamer accommodations.
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No. 393
