POLITICAL STRATEGY
PRIOR TO OUTBREAK OF WAR

PART IV

PREPARED BY
MILITARY HISTORY SECTION
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY FORCES FAR EAST

DISTRIBUTED BY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF MILITARY HISTORY
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

This Monograph may not be reproduced without the permission of the Chief of Military History.

Distributed by:

Department of the Army
Office of the Chief of Military History
Washington 25 D.C.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Foreword/Preface

                                                            Page No.
Shift of Emphasis in National Policy from Political 
To Military Strategy                                              1

    Japan's National Defense Policy                               1

    Strengthening of Strategic Measures
    (First half of 1941)                                          4

        Military Strategy Against China                           4

        Advocacy of the Malaya Invasion                           6

    Operational Policy Against the United States,
    Great Britain and the Netherlands East Indies                 8

    Study of Naval Operations Plan against the
    United States, Great Britain and the 
    Netherlands East Indies                                      12 

    Transition of National Policy from Political
    Strategy to Military Strategy                                13

    Supreme Command's Proposal to the Government in
    Regard to the Transition from Peace to War
    (24 September 1941)                                          15

    Acceleration of Navy's War Preparations                      18

    Preparations in Anticipation of Outbreak of War              20

    Imperial Conference on 5 November 1941 to Form
    National Policy in Anticipation of War                       24

    Discussion on Proposals made at Imperial 
    Conference of 5 November                                     28

    Decision to go to War                                        33

    Imperial Conference - 1 December 1941                        34

    Political Measures, Internal and External, Taken
    Following the Decision to Open Hostilities                   41

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        Note to be sent to the United States and 
        Time at which it was to be Delivered                     42

        Principles for Future Guidance of War                    44

        Principles for Administration of Southern
        Occupied Areas                                           49

        Measures to be Taken Against Foreign
        Countries in the Event of War                            52

        Outline of measures to be taken toward
        Thailand, decided at the Liaison Conference
        of 23 November 1941                                      57

    Measures to be taken by Manchukuo to cope with
    the sudden change in the international situation,
    decided at the Liaison Conference of 4 December,
    1941                                                         60

    Treatment of the Netherlands, decided at the
    Liaison Conference of 4 December, 1941                       61

    Measures to be taken by China to cope with the
    sudden change in the international situation,
    decided at the Liaison Conference of 6 
    December, 1941                                               62

    Measures toward the Soviet Union to be 
    negotiated with Germany, decided at the 
    Liaison Conference of 6  December, 1941                      62

    Imperial Rescript on Declaration of War                      63

    Commencement of Hostilities and Measures Taken
    Immediately Thereafter                                       65
 APPENDICES 
Appendix No 1    Resources Necessary to be Mobilized for the
                 Execution of War (Cabinet Planning Board.
                 29 July 1941)                                   71

Appendix No 2    Conclusions Reached After Study of "The Outline
                 for the Execution of the Empire's National Policy,"
                 at the Liaison Conference from 23 to 30 October
                 1941                                            76

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Appendix No 3    Testimony by Prime Minister Tojo before the 
                 International Military Tribunal for the
                 Far East
                 Relating to Japan's Decision to go to War      92

Appendix No 4    Testimony by Prime Minister Tojo before the 
                 International Military Tribunal for the Far 
                 East
                 Senior Statesman's Conference held in the 
                 Presence of the Emperor on 29 November 1941    96

Appendix No 5    Memorandum Handed to the United States
                 Government in Washington on 7 December 1941   103

Appendix No 6    Statement by Ambassador Nomura Regarding
                 the Handing of the Ultimatum to the United 
                 States                                        114

Appendix No 7    Imperial Rescript on the Declaration of War   116

Appendix No 8    Testimony by Prime Minister Tojo before the
                 International Military Tribunal for the Far
                 East Relating to the Imperial Rescript on
                 the Declaration of War                        119

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