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Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and Fruits of Infamy - Ludwig von Mises ...

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156 <strong>Pearl</strong> <strong>Harbor</strong>: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Seeds</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Fruits</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Infamy</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> an agreement reached between Japan <strong>and</strong> the United States<br />

at this time would result in a complete breakdown <strong>of</strong> Chinese<br />

morale.<br />

Welles told Halifax that in his view the Chinese had real cause<br />

for concern. “Japanese troop movements in southern Indochina<br />

were already very active. . . . Japanese forces there were being<br />

quickly increased in number . . . [indicating] that the threat against<br />

Th ail<strong>and</strong> was imminent.” Moreover, Welles pointed out, “it was<br />

evident from the information received here that the Japanese<br />

were preparing to move immediately on a very large scale. Th e<br />

gravity <strong>of</strong> the situation . . . could not be exaggerated.” 49<br />

Japan Vows to Destroy British <strong>and</strong><br />

American Power in China<br />

Another “Purple” intercept, sent from Tokyo on November<br />

14, <strong>and</strong> deciphered in Washington on November 26, reminded us<br />

again, forcibly, <strong>of</strong> Japan’s intentions in the Far East. Th is cable had<br />

been addressed to “Hongkong” <strong>and</strong> to the Japanese diplomatic<br />

<strong>of</strong>fi cers in 11 Chinese cities.<br />

“[T]he Imperial Government [still] hopes for great things<br />

from the Japan-American negotiations,” it read. However, “they<br />

do not permit optimism for the future. Should the negotiations<br />

collapse, the international situation in which the Empire will fi nd<br />

herself will be one <strong>of</strong> tremendous crisis.” Th e Japanese cabinet<br />

had made several momentous foreign policy decisions:<br />

a. We will completely destroy British <strong>and</strong> American power in<br />

China.<br />

b. We will take over all enemy concessions <strong>and</strong> enemy important<br />

rights <strong>and</strong> interests (customs <strong>and</strong> minerals, etc.) in<br />

China.<br />

49 Ibid., pp. 666–67, Welles’s November 27, 1941 memor<strong>and</strong>um.

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