Going back to source H, it gives more information suggesting reasons why the attack was probably known to be imminent, it tells us how the Japanese fleet was known to be sailing 400 miles North of Hawaii. That it seemed strange that America did not take any action in a time of High Tension, when America was on red alert. Japan was a rival to America in the Far East, where tension had gradually been building. America set trade embargoes upon Japan, and signed a treaty disabling Japan from ever having a bigger Navy than America. At a conference where Roosevelt proposed getting rid of the Embargoes in return for Japan giving up the land she had invaded and captured in China. Japan’s reaction to the proposition was negative and the talks broke down. Japan through Admiral Yamomoto made plans to attack America, at Pearl Harbour.
Source A is a letter written by Roosevelt, stating the dangers of a Nazi or red (communist) victory in the War. America needed to continue to be allies with Britain to still have a word in the affairs in Europe. Roosevelt writes ‘that if Germany or Russia win the war, the good of civilization would be in peril.’ From this, it is obvious Roosevelt feared that a non-Democratic European superpower would be comparable to American power. The letter suggests that Roosevelt desperately wanted America to get out of isolation, and be able to take actions against Nazism or Communism in the war. But the American society was not interested in the quarrels of Europe. However German or Russian control of Europe would cause an economic unbalance. It was very important for the good of America to continue to have a large amount of export to Europe. For the good of America and her foothold on the world’s trade he knew that sooner or later America would have to get involved. As Germany became more and more successful in the war, so Roosevelt feared more and more. So the argument is, that if there was knowledge of a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, Roosevelt would ignore the information and not defend against the attack, even if it were at the possible loss of life, technology and shear defensive and offensive machinery docked at Pearl Harbour. That the Japanese attack would become a scapegoat for Roosevelt to fill his shocked people with propaganda making them willing to fight, come out of isolationism and befall in to the European War. Even if Roosevelt was aware of the Japanese plans, he may not have realized the cost the attack would make. But he did know that America did critically need to be involved in Europe. Japanese attack would be the event that enabled this.
In Britain Churchill was trying desperately to remain in the war, after the early fall of France, Britain was running out of allies. It is thought that Roosevelt’s good Friend the British Prime Minister was desperate for the U.S.A. to enter the War. With hindsight we can see, that America’s entry to the War had a huge impact on the War, and without them it is probable that Hitler would have won. This was evident to Winston Churchill and Britain. Source B, a cartoon from the British propaganda magazine Punch shows Roosevelt or America in the form of Achilles, as the near unstoppable Greek Warrior half in half out of a tent titled isolationism. The illustration is captioned ‘will he came right out’ punning on the need for America to enter the War.
It is known that Roosevelt was one of the most patriotic leaders America has ever had, a great lover of the Navy with a Naval Background. He is arguably one of the most politically skilled Politicians America have had as President. So why would he allow such devastation? It is of the personal opinion of most that knew and worked with him closely that they find it unimaginable that he would have allowed such an atrocity. Source E, Francis Perkins a member of the presidential cabinet, one of the Presidents closest work colleagues, states how she found it impossible to believe that Roosevelt would allow such a catastrophe of such proportions of Pearl Harbour to happen. That he surely must have been oblivious to the plans. It also tells us how he of all people found it more personally heart rending than most. ‘Roosevelt’s pride in the Navy was so terrific that he was actually having physical difficulty in getting the words out that put him on record as to knowing the Navy was caught unawares.’ This agrees with the traditional view that America, more importantly Roosevelt was 100 percent oblivious to the Japanese plans.
Source D comes down very hard against Roosevelt. ‘Never before has a President done so much to manouevre his country into a war in which it was so ill prepared.’ It categorically says that Roosevelt purposely allowed the actions to take place to bring the U.S.A into the war. The source was written after the death of the President, and had it been written during his life, it would have not been printed in many papers and sources. It is likely an attempt from the writer to tarnish the respect for Roosevelt.
Source C puts forward the suggestion that the information regarding Pearl Harbour could well have been picked up and deciphered yet disregarded, lost or not filed. ‘Just what significance the hour set may have, we do not know.’ ‘Received in Pearl Harbour.... having no priority was filed away.’ Overall this tends to edge toward the belief that Roosevelt did not know. American intelligence was bombarded with a huge amount of information, containing many red herrings whilst the American people were often subject to poor journalism. It is impossible to tell if the information was filed away. But for information regarding the strategic importance of Pearl Harbour might not have been to passed along the line.
Finally Source G, the memoirs of Mr. H. Stimpson ‘When the news came that the Japanese had attacked us, my first feeling was of relief that the indecision was over.’ There is an implication of surprise at the attack which suggests that there was not knowledge, though there is a degree of joy/relief that the event occurred. So America could enter the War.
It is impossible to know, whether Roosevelt did know of the Japanese attack, or did not. The evidence pointing towards Roosevelt knowing is not substantial. If there was enough evidence pointing towards him having known, then that would be the way we consider events to have happened. The conspiracy theory does propose some convincing reasons. Such as the Air craft carriers being sent out on manouevres so that they would not be destroyed, it makes sense as Air craft carriers were of huge importance with their skill in offensive attacks. The decoded information of the Japanese attack is vast enough to believe that there was available information. The enormity of the attack should have definitely been passed back to the President and prestigious government figureheads in Washington. However with all conspiracy theories, it is impossible to prove anything without more useful information. Though there is a certain amount of strong evidence suggesting that Roosevelt did know of the Japanese attack, the lack of evidence and opposing evidence makes it too skeptical. The real truth will have gone to the grave with Roosevelt and the others that know.
