Text Version


                              THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
                                            WASHINGTON                                      
    
                                            October 9, 1940
 
 
                       MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
 
     Orders have been issued for these measures to be taken 
at once:
 
                       1. Call the organized Naval and Marine Reserves.
 
                       2. Call Fleet Reserve, Navy and Marine, selective 
                   basis.
 
                       3. Lay nets and booms for drill purposes.
 
           The following steps in preparation for war can be taken 
to impress the Japanese with the seriousness of our 
preparations:
 
                       1. Army send reinforcement to Hawaii if contempled.
 
                       2. Presidential proclamation for Maritime Commission 
                   to requisition merchant ships, in order to
 
                       3. Take over tankers, transports, auxiliaries, and 
                   begin to assemble Train on West Coast.
 
                       4. Coast Guard transfer to Navy.
 
                       5. Fill up garrisons of defense battalions in 14th 
                   District outlying bases.
 
                       6. Presidential proclamation establishing defensive 
                   sea areas.
 
                       7. Withdraw nationals from China. (Inconsistent with
                   getting merchant ships out of danger).
 
                       8. Plan for evacuation of families out of Hawaii later Panama.
 
                       9. Preparations regarding seizure German and Japanese 
                   merchant vessels in ports and near our coasts.
 
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