Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, General; the British Commonwealth; the Far East, Volume I

740.0011 European War 1939/17502: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Consul at Manila (Steintorf)

Washington, December 15, 1941—6 p.m.

430. Personal for Sayre from President.

“The President is directly in touch with the situation in the Far East. He wishes you to read the War Department’s message sent today to MacArthur³ which is self-explanatory. For evident military reasons no public announcement of the nature suggested by you should be made at this time. General MacArthur can determine what might safely be said publicly. Roosevelt.”

Hull

3. Telegram No. 787, dispatched at 2:28 p.m., which in pertinent part was as follows: “Your messages of December 13th and 14th have been studied by the President. The strategic importance of the Philippines is fully recognized and there has been and will be no wavering in the determination to support you. The problem of supply is complicated by Naval losses in the Pacific but as recommended in yours of December 14th bomber and pursuit reinforcements are to be rushed to you.” (740.0011PW/12–1541) For summaries of messages of December 13 and 14, see Department of the Army, The Fall of the Philippines, by Louis Morton (Washington, 1953), pp. 147, 151, 152.