Secretary of Navy Frank Knox declared a week after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor that fifth columnist activities were partly responsible for the success of Imperial Japanese forces. Who and what he meant when he used the phrase “fifth columnist activities” is subject to debate. Most assume he was referring to all Japanese Americans or Japanese nationals residing in Hawai’i. But this essay, based on Knox’s personal correspondence, supplemented with the Pearl Harbor Attack hearings’ published reports, Judge Advocate General records, and the 14th Naval District Intelligence Officer reports, finds that Knox was referring to the Japanese Consul-General Office and a small handful of Japanese American assistants who voluntarily carried out the task of keeping the U.S. Fleet and military installations under surveillance, thereby contributing to the success of the Imperial Japanese attack.

海军部长弗兰克·诺克斯（Frank Knox）在日本袭击珍珠港一周后宣布，第五次专栏活动是部分日本帝国军队取得成功的原因。当他使用“第五专栏作家的活动”这个词时，他的意思和含义是有争议的。大多数人以为他是指居住在夏威夷的所有日裔美国人或日本国民。但是，根据诺克斯的个人来信，这篇文章加上珍珠港袭击听证会的已发表报告，大法官助理记录和第14海军区情报官的报告，发现诺克斯指的是日本总领事馆和一小部分。少数日裔美国助手自愿执行监视美国舰队和军事设施的任务，