Breakdown of US-Japanese Relations in 1941 Exposed the Incompatibility of the Two Power's Ambition - Essay Example

Topic: The breakdown of US-Japanese relations in December 1941 exposed the fundamental incompatibility of the two power's ambition. Name: Instructor Name: Course Name: Date: Introduction The fateful incident of December 7, 1941, certainly exposed to the rest of the world, the clash of the two powers who wanted to establish their supremacy over the other and the resultant scene of mass destruction. Even though the attack of December 7, 1941 was led by Japan and was completely uncalled for, the but the seeds for the same were sown years before the actual bombing happened. Both America and Japan had a quench for power and establishment of rule on other nations and they both wanted to ensure that the other power does not come into its way. However, America was not interested in sharing its power and supremacy with Japan and Japan was not interested in letting America act as an obstacle in its way of seizure of China or Southeast Asian countries rich in natural resources. This was the background that eventually led to Dec 1941 bombings by Japan on American fleet in 1941. In this topic, we will discuss what were the series of incident that provoked Japan to wage a sudden and surprise war on the American Fleet at Pearl Harbor and what was its aftermath. Also are discussed topics like why was America acting as an obstacle in the Japanese plans for seizure of south east Asian countries and why was Japan desperately interested in establishing its rule in these countries. Background December 1941 is one of the most unforgettable event in the history of world that exposed the incompatibility of two super powers- The US and Japan. The unfortunate day was December 7, 1941, when a fleet of Japanese naval air forces was flying from their respective destinations to some locations in the Pacific Ocean. The incident completely took people by shock who unaware of the forthcoming tragedy were busy having their breakfast and preparing for the day. The target of Japanese naval air forces was Pearl Harbor, the United States center for military action. This incident marked the entry of United States in the World War II. What led to December 1941 attack on the Peal Harbor by Japanese forces? Japan being short of natural resources had begun to by and large depend on outside sources for fulfilling its shortage of the required resources. Despite the fact that Japan had an acute shortage of natural resources like oil, it was able to build a strong economic foundation as well as a highly powerful navy and army. In no time, Japanese army became so powerful that it started interfering in Government decisions and invading war on its own. The Japanese army proved to be stronger against the Chinese in Manchuria and soon Manchuria became the part of Japanese political system. In 1937, Japanese army entered into conflicts with the Chinese in the area near Beijing's Marco Polo Bridge. This incident led to the bloodiest war known in the history of world- the “Sino-Japanese” war. The war continued till 1945 when Japan was finally defeated and had to give up arms. In the beginning of World War II in the year 1939, German forces were slowly dominating the war scene by a series of victory over countries like Poland, France and carrying out bombings on England. Japan during this time observed that many the colonies controlled by Germany had a control over other colonial empires in the Southeast Asia including East Indies and Singapore. These countries were rich in natural resources that Japan lacked and the nations at that time were occupied over war matters with Europe. Japan found this as a golden opportunity to capture and get control over these colonies. At the same time in the United States, the ruling President Franklin. D. Roosevelt, wanted to exercise control over the expanding and growing war missions of Germany and Japan. The President of the US was in conflict with some of its Government members who wanted to leave the situation alone. Even though the US kept itself neutral to the war situation even though it kept on supplying arms to the nations fighting against Germany and Japan. In the year 1941, July, Japan, found a way out to get access to the resources from the southeastern countries even though it was worried about the US’s reaction to its decision of acquiring the South Eastern countries. Japan began its process of acquiring Southeast countries with the seizure of southern Indochina. The US government was strictly against Japanese government plans of seizing Southeast Asian countries. As a reaction to Japan’s process of seizure of Southeast countries, the US banned oil shipment, which was required by Japan to maintain its military and technology progress. Japan viewed this action of oil embargo by the US as an act of war, which agitated Japan military, as well as government. Japan government was well aware that without oil, Japan’s technology and military progress would come to stop in a short span of time. This laid the foundation day for fateful day of 7th December 1941. Following oil embargo to Japan, an action that was taken by Japan with a negative perspective, US made many attempts to resolve the differences with Japan, however, Japan was adamant to settle scores with the US. Japan wanted the US to lift the oil embargo and let it move forward with its plan of seizing China. On the other hand, the US was adamant on its condition that it would lift embargo on oil shipment on Japan only if it agrees to back-off from its plans of seizing China. Japan was not ready to agree to the US stance of back off and the US viewed it as a sign of hostility from Japan. Seeds were being rooted from the end of both countries growing the plant of war. Both the countries realised that since both the US and Japan were obstinate to stick to their stands, war was inevitable. It was a huge clash of egos between two super-powers. US bounced back as a reaction to the obstinate stand of Japan by empowering its military forced stationed in the Pacific. In no time US military force under General Douglas MacArthur became a formidable force. It has been revealed that the General was confident of his force stationed in Philippines that on December 5, 1941 said, “Nothing would please me better than if they would give me three months and then attack here”. US Pacific Fleet was the most powerful and vital part of the American defence system in the Pacific coast. US seeing that war with Japan was looming on head and was difficult to avert, the US military base was shifted to Pearl Harbor base in Hawaii, which was considered as the most ideal and safest location considering its location halfway between United States west coast and the Japanese military bases in the Marshall Islands. The American army fleet was scheduled to return to the United States mainland from the Pacific coast around May. However, considering the looming war situation with Japanese increasing expansion in Southeast Asia as well as increasing activity of Italy in the European part of the continent, the US President Roosevelt felt the need for presence of Army in the Peal Harbor. As he felt that having, army in the Pearl Harbor would restrict the Japanese army access or attack to the United States Army. The Admiral in charge of the Fleet in the Pacific harbor was strictly against this idea as we though the facilities and resources available were inadequate for proper maintenance of the Army. Even through Admiral was aware and he raised his voice that Japanese army would be able to soon the judge the military situation of the US army and they would try to take advantage of the same, but he was not heard All his objections and concerns got him a dismissal from the President. He was soon replaced by Admiral Husband E Kimmel. Even Admiral Kimmel did not liked the idea of prolonging army’s stay in the Pearl Harbor, but seeing the resulting consequence of Admiral Richardson, he decided to stay quiet and watch the situation. The sole purpose of the Fleet at Pearl Harbor was to put a stop to Japanese army plans of seizing southeastern countries by capturing the Caroline and Marshall Islands, disturbing Japanese trade routes as well as acting as a defence wall for protecting the US mainland. At the same time, Japanese army chief was busy devising a strategy that would give a blow to the United States Army in the Pacific harbor thereby crippling the United States, while moving with their original plan of capturing Southeast Asian countries and gathering natural resources. Japanese army chief was devising the strategy to demoralize the US army, which would then help them maintain a superior position in the pacific. Following the British army attack on the Taronto harbor, Japanese army chief decided to launch a massive attack on the US fleet in the Pearl Harbor. By now Japan had got into a passion of war to rule and capture the southeast Asian countries and maintain a dominant position in the pacific. The Japanese army chief saw his plans happening with an attack on the Peal harbor. Thus was laid the stone for unfortunate day of Dec 14, 1941, when the US fleet in Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese military forces. The fateful day- The Bombing begins Even though the Japan’s Navy staff general was opposed to the chief’s plans of attacking the Pearl Harbor but he continued with training the armed forces and preparing and training them for the attack. During all this time peace talks were on between the US and the Japan government until November 27, 1941. All the negotiations came to half during this time, seeing peace talks heading no where. President of the US, Roosevelt, made an appeal of peace to the Japanese emperor on December 6, 1941 and unfortunately, not until late of that day, was the American fleet able to decode the message that presented the possibility of attack by the Japanese forces. Approximately 9 a.m.(Washington time) on December 7,1941, the last part of the fourteen part message was decoded stating a severance of ties with the United States. At 6a.m Hawaiian time, Japan launched its first attack fleet consisting of 183 planes that took off from aircraft carriers 230 miles north of Oahu. The first Japanese bomb was dropped at 7:55 a.m. on Wheeler Field, eight miles from Pearl Harbor. Bombing Aftermath Out of the around 100 US navy ships present on the Pearl harbor on the day of December 7, 1941, eight battleships were destroyed and five were sunk. Eleven smaller ships including cruisers and destroyers were also badly damaged. The total number of fatalities was 2,335 service members and 68 civilians. Total number of wounded people exceeded 12,335 service members and 68 civilians, 178 people. The whole place was destroyed and burnt to ashes in the span of few hours. What remains today is a memorial spanning the sunken remains of the Arizona dedicated to the memory of all those lost in the bombing. The conflict between the US and Japan soon became a global conflict with Germany and Italy also joining in the war waged against the US. It was a huge blow of the ego of the US that avenged the attack on Pearl harbor by dropping bombs of Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, forcing Japanese government to surrender on August 14, 1945. The whole game of destruction and war between the Japan and the US and Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor was out of the quest for power and establishing rule over the whole world. Japan wanted to establish power and seize Southeast Asian countries as these countries were rich in natural resources and Japan was short of these resources and it hoped to seize these countries to fulfill its shortage of natural resources for fulfillment of its dream of having advancement in technology and economy and becoming financial developed and prosperous nation. On the other hand, United States considered itself a developed nation that wanted to impose its power and play on the other nations. The United States did not liked the idea of Japan trying to seize Southeast Asian countries and wanted to dictate its terms on Japan and stop it from moving forward with its seizure plans in Southeast Asian countries. This lead to America trying to adopt stricter ways to stop Japan from its plans. Oil embargo for Japan to halt its military and technology progress. This made Japanese government and military forces furious and the consequence was fateful day of December 7, 1941, when Japanese forces attacked fleet of the US army in the Pearl harbor. Aftermath of the War Even though the attack carried by the Japan on American fleet at Pearl harbor was on a large scale, the damage was insignificant in terms of American fuel storage, maintenance and intelligence capabilities. The biggest flaw of Japanese thinking and strategy on the attack on Pearl Harbor was a belief the ultimate Pacific battle would be between battleships of both sides, in keeping with the doctrine of Captain Alfred Mahan. The sole intent of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was to protect Imperial Japan's advance into Malaya and the Dutch East Indies – for their natural resources such as oil and rubber – by neutralizing the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The attack was one of the most important engagements of World War II. Occurring before a formal declaration of war, it shocked the American public out of isolationism. Roosevelt called December 7, 1941 "… a date which will live in infamy." (Roosevelt) The Japan was vulnerable and was in desperate need of natural resources that it intended to get by establishing its position and rule on the Southeastern countries that were rich in these resources. However, to stop Japan’s expansion plans in these countries, America displaying its power and supremacy imposed restrictions and economic sanctions on the Japanese trade. This made Japan more vulnerable for the natural resources that it required desperately for its technological and military advancement. The result was that Japanese government was left agitated and fuming seeking a revenge from the America for its display of power play. Far before the Japanese attack on Pearl harbor, it was realized and analyzed in the United states that the impact of economic sanctions and restrictions was war. After the Japanese attack on Manchuria in 1931, US secretary of state Henry Stimson had proposed economic sanctions and military action. But President Herbert Hoover warned his cabinet that sanctions 'are the roads to war' (Charles A Beard, 1948). The Pearl Harbor attack by Japanese on US fleet dragged America unwillingly into World War II. The way situation was moving and Japan was getting furious and agitated over forced economic restrictions and sanctions, an attack on Pearl Harbor, or any such similar incident was inevitable; not simply because of the machinations of politicians, but because of the broader rivalries, which drove the USA and Japan to go to war with one another. It can be clearly seen that the war between the Japan and the US was a fight for power and supremacy. It was a conflict for establishing power over Southeast Asian countries rich in natural resources and a struggle for being powerful and influential in the world. If looked from the American point of view, Japanese expansion plans in China led the squeezing out of America from the imported trade markets and distributed the power in the pacific that was until then solely in the hands of America. From Japanese point of view, the invasion of China was a legitimate response to economic problems at home and growing protectionism in Britain and the USA. (Daniel, 2001). From the series of incidents that led to the fateful incident on December 7, 1941, it can definitely be analysed that both Japan and America were equally to be blamed for the Pearl Harbor attacked. Definitely, Japan was guilty of claiming so many lives and mass-destruction but, at the same time, it was America that ignited the fuel for mass–destruction by coming in the way of Japanese plans of expansion in Southeast Asian countries. Both Japan and America were rival powers, conflicting with each other due to global capitalist crisis. Japan’s surprise, unprovoked' attack on Pearl Harbor was a continuation by other means of a conflict which was initiated by America by the way of economic restrictions and trade sanctions, and thus the war was long way overdue before the actual bomb was dropped on the Pearl Harbor. Conclusion The Japanese attack on the American fleet on December 7, 1941, which claimed a large number of innocent lives and led to mass-destruction exposed the quest for power by nations like America and Japan. Undoubtedly, the war waged by Japan was an unproved and surprise attack on the American fleet but somehow considering the circumstances that led to it, it looked inevitable. Even the US was well-aware that its economic restrictions and embargo of important natural resources to Japan, which was desperately required by the Japan for fulfillment of its military and technological aspirations. Trade restrictions and ban of natural resources such as oil and natural rubber was a big blow for aspirations of Japanese government and military forces. Thus American government could definitely foresee that by agitating Japanese government, they are giving them a reason to get furious and bounce back to them. Still the American government did not paid a heed to the future dangers and threats and continued imposing trade restrictions on the Japanese government. This is simply because America wanted to show and ensure that it was the supreme power in the Pacific and south east part of the continent and it was not interested in sharing its power with any one. At the same time, Japan was adamant on establishing a hold on the pacific as well as Southeast Asian countries, which were rich in natural resources. Both the nations tried its own way to establish its power and dominate the other. America tried it by the way of trade restrictions and economic sanctions and Japan by the way of attack on Pearl Harbor. Thus, seeds were rooted from both the ends and the consequent destruction was inevitable. The whole destruction was about nothing but quest for power and establishment of supremacy over the other nation. Both nations wanted to rule the other and the consequent clash with the powers was inevitable. References Daniel Nassim (May 2001), Pearl Harbor: the prequel, (Farringdon Road, London) http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/00000002D0F9.htm, Accessed November 13 2007 Charles A Beard,(1948). President Roosevelt and the Coming of the War (Yale University), The Pacific Historical Review, Vol. 17, No. 4 (Nov., 1948), pp. 468-470 Greg Butterfield (June2001), Debunking movie myths: some class truth about Pearl Harbor, (NY 10011), Workers World, 21 June 2001, http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/20/047.html, Accessed November 13 2007. Irvine H Anderson,(May 1975). 'The 1941 De Facto Embargo on Oil to Japan: A Bureaucratic Reflex', Pacific Historical Review, Vol. 44, No. 2, 201-231. May, 1975. John McKechney,(1963) The Pearl Harbor controversy' (Monumenta Nipponica), 18: 1 (1963): 45-88. Seki, Eiji (2007). Sinking of the SS Automedon And the Role of the Japanese Navy: A New Interpretation. (University of Hawaii Press). 13 November 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor#Aftermath Stackman, Michael (1990) Target: Pearl Harbor. (Honolulu). University of Hawaii Press. 1990. John Szalkowski. (February 4,1996). 'Pearl Harbor: The U.S. Enters World War II'.URL=http://www.avdigest.com/~rcecil/aahm/trpearl.html#attack, Accessed November 13 2007. Read More