If the United States had altered their goal of unconditional defeat, then there was a possibility of ending the war through peace. However, the American lives were at stake, so Truman did not take any consideration of compromise. Truman has a record of displaying no interest in meetings his opposition half- way. This was evident when Stalin was wanting reparations that FDR was considering on coming to terms himself. Furthermore, Byrnes and Acheson agreed that the American people would oppose terms that could end the war. The ideas that they had in mind was to retain the emperor of Japan, but others saw its fault. They were afraid that it would invite the Japanese or any other power that the consequence of destruction can open compromises in their favor. It can ultimately prolong the war, which prolongs the death of American soldiers.
However, there was another indication that Japan was heading into peace agreements, but not with the United States. Instead the Japanese had
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Furthermore, Truman was trying to cut off their sea ports in order to prevent aid and resources. Another option was to wait for the Russians to eventually join the Pacific war and the potential invasion of Kyushu. All could be considered reasonable methods that could reduce the cost of war and lives. Yet so many complications began to appear, with no sign of Japan backing out. The leaders of Japan would not admit the condition of their economy being affected by aerial attacks. The combined chief of staff was aware of the devastating effects it had on Japan's economy, but they also concluded that it would take more attacks to decrease the amount of ammunition. Thus, the US were aware that progress was made, but they were not sure how long would Japan endure such actions. Time became a key issue and eventually one of the justifications to switch
Prior to Hiroshima, the Japanese had determined that the only way that they would be able to mediate peace between them and the United States is if the Soviet Union was the one to do the mediating. Although Japan was aware that
This paper focuses on the failure of diplomatic decisions made by Japan that is national in nature most particularly when they chose to fight in the midst of an embargo made by the American government. The attack of Japan against Pearl Harbor is a result of an erratic, egoistic and irrational behavior blinding the Japanese Military Personnel and Officials of the destructive outcome of the World War 2 and a lack of diplomatic strategies that misled the communication between USA and
Despite the fact that President Franklin Roosevelt was determined to keep the nation out of the conflict, a few months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Congress declared war on Japan (Higley). After this declaration, the United States was fully committed to the war effort, both militarily and economically. Even so, some Americans still believe that the United States should have kept to their traditional policy of isolationism and could have “remained safely disconnected from the greatest conflict in human history” (Boren). Unfortunately, the reality is that the United States was too slow to respond to the aggression that was occurring in Europe and Asia, enabling the Axis powers to gain an advantage. Thus, by the time the United States decided to intervene, it was already too late have avoided the
Admiral Yamamoto’s drive destroy the American carrier capability was so fierce, it dominated the operational planning. The Naval General Staff should have transitioned to a defensive posture to consolidate their gains made thus far in the war. If Japan had reinforced and built up key positions on their new territory, it would require the US to fight much further east against a bunkered in enemy. Clausewitz argued that there were advantages to taking the defense, depending on who had the initiative. Japan’s war aim was to acquire regional control over the Pacific.
Japan need something to distract America from the pacific, to give them time to attack their crucial targets, Pearl Harbour was the perfect plan, wiping out the pacific fleet gave the Japanese the allowance it needed.(Source B). Planning Japan set out for sail on November 26 for their pre-emptive strike, only on the 1st of December and the 7th the fleet commander got his final orders whilst they were in Hawaii. (Source L)The Japanese even had to learn code signals like “TO, TO, TO…” telling them it was time to attack. (Source L).
But, Roosevelt insisted that they build up the armed forces. congress even passed a law saying that it was okay to send munitions to France and to the UK. Even though Franklin Roosevelt did everything in his power to stop becoming involved in it, Japan invaded manchuria. Roosevelt’s reaction to this was shutting off trade with japan, which meant no oil for Japan because Japan didn’t have the capacity to produce oil for itself, and in turn it made the japanese even more mad than before, and it made the Japanese think of the USA as the biggest threat to their cause/expansion, and since the U.S. had a pretty powerful navy, and the Japanese could not reach the mainland U.S., Their only option was to attack the fleet at
Which led to Japan to look for oil that was outside of United States control. After looking, Japan wanted to invade the Dutch East Indies, because of its rich oil. To respond to the invasion, the United States moved the Pacific Fleet from San Diego to Hawaii. Which left Japan week in front of United States military, but it was not a problem because the U.S and Japan were not in war. However, until Roosevelt warned Japan to stop their expansion or the U.S will make another moves.
The United States did try to negotiate peace with Japan to stop an inevitable war, but the deal that was given to Japan was made in such a way that Japan would not accept it. Japan was not going to step down immediately and pull out all of their troops in foreign nations that they just spent years trying to achieve. Another option in Hull Note was war. This negotiation was meant to force war between America and Japan, but it did not give the choice to America it gave it to Japan. Japan was not going to give up their pride and give up to the Americans without a fight.
The Japanese mindset was simple; it was time to get the “easy” countries in the Pacific before Germany ended the war altogether. Easy was meant to mean large countries that the Japanese thought they could take down. Japan was convinced on a naval war because they believed that they had more supplies, ships, planes, and more overall more advanced than the Americans. Overall, they believed that they were qualitatively better than the United States. This mindset led them into some trouble regarding the outcomes of the
Tensions had been high between Japan and America for a while, and restricting trade between the countries only fueled the fire. “July 1941, The United States freezes all Japanese assets and bank accounts. Aug 1941, the United States imposes an embargo of oil shipments to Japan.” (Doc C) Losing America as one of their consumers caused the Japanese economy to suffer. Japan believed that this separation of trade was the United States preparing to distance themselves from Japan to make it easier for America to attack Japan.
made an “embargo of aircrafts and aircraft parts against Japan.” In addition, the U.S. “freezes all Japanese assets and bank accounts” and placed another “embargo on oil shipments to Japan” right after they move their US Pacific fleet to Pearl Harbor, which they had planned to increase by three time within the next 3 years. Considering all the losses, and the poor treatment Japan faced by the U.S., Pearl Harbor seemed to be an important investment to America, as well as a perfect target for the Japanese to attack and show off their power through revenge. In Document E, Prime and War Minister of Japan, Hideki Tojo states that the U.S. never had a real reason to treat Japan in such a manner and “make[s] strong demands.” Part of the reason Japan attacked Pearl Harbor was because it was strategically necessary for
Overall Japan had new world order that they were going to enforce one the Americans did not fit
The U.S has worked Japan down to its last straw, pretty soon Japanese leaders are going to lose it and turn on the United States. Stated in Document C, In May 1940, President Roosevelt moves the U.S Pacific fleet from California, to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Furthermore, in the following July, the Congress passes the Naval Expansion Act promising, to triple the size of the fleet by 1944 (Doc C). Japan, Already fearful that the Americans have more power over them, are aware of the expansion, in response Japanese leaders remark, “... When I think about the strengthening of the American defenses in the Southwest Pacific, the expansion of the American fleet, … I see no end to the difficulties... “
At the time, Japan did not have the necessary natural resources an industrial nation required; therefore, the United States and the western parts of Europe were supplying Japan with these resources: coal, iron, steel, copper, rubber, and petroleum (Higgs). Without these resources, Japan would collapse in a matter of months. In order to sustain their military, they would need coal, iron, steel, and petroleum to supply their military. Japan had to act fast, or else their whole economy would crumble. On the islands that American took away from Japan during the imperialist stages in the late 19th century, such as Hawaii and the Philippians, had these resources.
With every option the Japanese offered America, American would ask for more. America asked for unobtainable request. When Japan would raise their offer, the United States would continue to ask for more to not allow the Japan to accept. The longer the United States would hold off from the final deal with Japan, the more likely the Japanese would commit the first strike towards war. The United States did not want to accept any of the requests.