Messersmith, G.S.
Date
2011-06-15
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Discusses Panay incident and first results of coordination at high levels of foreign policy; after Japanese attack on U.S. gunboat Panay in Yangtze River in [Dec. 1937], Secretary [Cordell] Hull called meeting in his office to determine what action U.S. should take; present were high ranking officials of State Department and Chiefs of staff of Army and Navy; it was not known whether the attack on the Panay was deliberate on instructions from authorities in Tokyo or not, but it seemed clear from the discussion Japan was not ready for such provocative action and was not trying to precipitate war with U.S.; developments following Panay incident showed that decision, approved by President, not to consider incident a direct provocation to war was correct; some colleagues in Department had been skeptical about bringing in chiefs of staff to policy councils, but contributions made by them to the deliberations that day convinced all of the desirability of such coordination.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.