With 2500 dead and over 1000 wounded, was the two hour attack on Pearl Harbour a tragic misfortune, or a meticulously planned excuse for the United States to declare war on Japan. Many documents seem to suggest that president Roosevelt knew about the imminent attack on Pearl Harbour and even welcomed it as an excuse to declare war on Japan. Should these theories be taken seriously, or are they merely the ravings of paranoid citizens? Although some information available may lead people to think otherwise, I doubt that Roosevelt was aware of Japan’s schemes. In September 1941 the American military decoded a secret message from Japan requesting reports concerning vessels stationed in Pearl Harbour (source 4). This message was not transferred
…show more content…
Anyhow, the possibility of war with Japan was well advertised and citizens were frequently warned of approaching danger (source 13). There was no reason Roosevelt would want American citizens to be taken off guard by a Japanese attack. The US would most likely have declared war on Japan whether or not the ambush in Hawaii had been successful. After the attack several witnesses, including Stimson (secretary of war) and Frances Perkins (secretary of labour), describe the mood in the White House as being in a “state of confusion… Secretary of the Navy Knox was flustered at the failure of his department. Secretary of State Hull was silently enraged over Japanese bad faith. The president was not at all himself. "He (had) a queer gray, drawn look"” (source 12). This is hardly the behaviour of people expecting an attack. If observed through a narrow lens, the events leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbour may appear conspiratorial, however given a little perspective, the whole idea slowly loses credibility. The majority of claims made against President Roosevelt are illogical with respect to the situation. Perhaps it would be wiser to stop attempting to prove 70 year old rumors and look for more important lessons that can be taken from the Second World
Anyhow, the possibility of war with Japan was well advertised and citizens were frequently warned of approaching danger (source 13). There was no reason Roosevelt would want American citizens to be taken off guard by a Japanese attack. The US would most likely have declared war on Japan whether or not the ambush in Hawaii had been successful. After the attack several witnesses, including Stimson (secretary of war) and Frances Perkins (secretary of labour), describe the mood in the White House as being in a “state of confusion… Secretary of the Navy Knox was flustered at the failure of his department. Secretary of State Hull was silently enraged over Japanese bad faith. The president was not at all himself. "He (had) a queer gray, drawn look"” (source 12). This is hardly the behaviour of people expecting an attack. If observed through a narrow lens, the events leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbour may appear conspiratorial, however given a little perspective, the whole idea slowly loses credibility. The majority of claims made against President Roosevelt are illogical with respect to the situation. Perhaps it would be wiser to stop attempting to prove 70 year old rumors and look for more important lessons that can be taken from the Second World