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Subject: Re: Further costs of war (fwd) From: dlv@bwalk.dm.com (Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM) Date: Mon, 24 Nov 97 00:46:22 EST

While I have no love for the japs, I mus point out in all fairness that FDR was attacking them on all fronts for years: 1) stopping the japs from immigrating into the us, 2) cutting off their supplies of raw materials (and therefore pushing the japs to conquer the territories that would assure the supply). In particular, right before the japs attacked pearl harbor, the US embargoed oil shipments to the japs. The japs had said previously that they'd consider such an embargo as a declaration of war. In particular, their line about p.h. was that it wasn't a "sulplise attack", and that the US had previously declared war on the japs by imposing the embargo.

The Japanese joined the Tri-partite on Sept. 27, 1940. 5 days later it began its first attacks in Indo-china, 13 months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. America was shocked by these acts and interpreted them as openly hostile and tended to strengthen Chian Kai-shek's claims as the legitimate Chinese authority. Prior to this signing Japanese forces had advanced up the Kowloon Peninsula to glair through the wire at Hong Kong. Tokyo demanded the British close the Burma Road and cease all war material trade with China. The British requested the Americans invoke a general embargo as well as moving naval forces to the western Pacific. The Americans rejected all these suggestions. They had moved the Pacific Fleet from the West Coast to Pearl Harbor. Because of the upcoming election it was felt that such actions would be interpreted as support for the British colonialism which was politicaly unacceptable to much of America. The British responded by offering to close the Burma Road for 3 months (during the monsoon season when there was little traffic to interrupt). Only in July of 1940, 2 months before Japan signed the act, did Roosevelt finaly put an embargo in place which covered aviation fuel, lubricants, and certain scrap iron and steel. In September the regulations were tightened. Only in Nov. after being re-elected did he include copper, zinc, brass, oil-drilling equipment, and other strategic materials. It's important to note that as early as January 1941 the Emporer had ordered Yamamoto to review the attack on Hawaii. Presumably because he felt uncomfortable with the entire thing. So the time line is something like this: 15 months prior to Pearl Harbor the US places an embargo on Japan presumably because of their aggressive policies. 13 months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor the Japanese sign the Tri-partite Act. 12 months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor the Emporer gets cold feet and orders a review of the plan.

My recollection is that Hitler's generla staff was busily designing the plans for invading the US, to be implemented after he was done with the GB and the USSR. They involved invading via his latin american allies (notably mexico) and possibly canada. However there was no way to sell the war against germany to the american public, except as part of a package deal with the war on japs.

Actualy at the time, German invasion through Mexico was felt to be a real possibility. There was significant build-up of both covert agents in Mexico as well as military forces along the border during this time. Note, I would appreciate any references to the regulation of Japanese nationals transiting through or applying for residence in the US during this period. Can't say that I've ever seen this issue in anything I've read. ____________________________________________________________________ | | | The financial policy of the welfare state requires that there | | be no way for the owners of wealth to protect themselves. | | | | -Alan Greenspan- | | | | _____ The Armadillo Group | | ,::////;::-. Austin, Tx. USA | | /:'///// ``::>/|/ http://www.ssz.com/ | | .', |||| `/( e\ | | -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'- Jim Choate | | ravage@ssz.com | | 512-451-7087 | |____________________________________________________________________|