During the interwar period, a notable shift in U.S. foreign policy regarding Japan began to emerge. They had previously established treaties with the Japanese Empire, and had notable trade links with them. However, as Japan continued to expand their empire in the Pacific relations with America swiftly declined.
The decline began after the Japanese army invaded, and occupied, Manchuria. The League of Nations requested the withdrawal of the Japanese army from Manchuria, but Japan did not pull their troops out. Whilst that did not begin any war with China, the United States did not acknowledge the addition of Manchuria to the Japanese Empire.
By 1937, Japan was at war with China. Their army invaded and occupied cities in eastern China. Thereafter, the U.S. foreign policy shifted further as they pledged support for China. With an isolationist foreign policy, they did not provide any direct military support, but they still shuttled aid to China.
In addition, they also began to pull out of economic treaties with Japan. After the Japanese occupation of Indochina, in 1940, a full U.S. economic embargo with Japan began. With the embargo in place, they cut exports of oil, gasoline and metals to the Japanese Empire.
As Japan imported most of their oil from them, the embargo greatly reduced fuel supplies for the Japanese military. By 1941, the war in China was far from over, and Japan was not about to withdraw their troops. However, the United States was requesting the full withdrawal of Japanese troops from China.
War between Japan and the United States was looming. However, the U.S. still retained diplomatic ties with Japan. U.S. foreign policy still remained largely isolationist, even though their president was increasing supplies to Britain. Opinion within the United States remained divided as to whether they should abandon their isolationist foreign policy.
A frenzy of diplomatic manoeuvring followed during 1941. Japan began discussions with the Dutch East Indies as an alternative supplier for oil. However, Holland also joined the Western economic embargo.
Whilst discussions with the West regarding potential withdrawal from China continued, Japan began planning for a war in the Pacific. Their plans included a large airstrike over Pearl Harbor that would wipe out the U.S. Pacific Fleet. In addition, they also targeted the occupation of fertile oil fields in the Philippines and Dutch East Indies.
The United States also began planning for war in the Pacific with the bolstering of reinforcements in the Philippines. It was also hoped that bolstering their military presence in the region might deter Japan from declaring war with the United States. They continued fruitless negotiations with the Japanese in the months leading up to Pearl Harbor.
The U.S. Secretary of State Hull handed a final note to Japanese diplomats in November. The Hull Note requested full Japanese withdrawal from China, removal of their troops from Indochina and for Japan to end their alliance with Germany and Italy. By then, Hull had probably largely given up on any remote chances of preserving peace in the Pacific. When they delivered the note, Japanese armadas were already sailing for the Philippines and Pearl Harbor.
The Pacific War began in December 1941. Hundreds of Japanese planes bombarded U.S. battleships and airfields around the harbor. Japan declared war with the United States, and their forces overran Allied positions in the Pacific soon after.
Matthew is the author of the book Battles of the Pacific War 1941 - 1945. This is a book that covers nine of the largest land and naval battles in the Pacific Theater. For further details, check out the book's blog ( http://battlesofthepacificwar.blogspot.co.uk/ ), Amazon ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battles-Pacific-War-1941-ebook/dp/B008YDCBBQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345193117&sr=8-1 ) and Lulu pages.
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