The way I understand it is Yamamoto’s letter is being taken way out of context and possibly edited to change the meaning. He knew what the result would be if war with the U.S. was prolonged. He was saying in his letter that he didn’t believe a strike at Pearl Harbor would knock us out of the war at one punch, but that to achieve victory it would be necessary to invade the mainland and actually enter Washington. Yamamoto had lived in the U.S. and knew the absurdity of such a scenario. So what he said in the letter was heavily ironic.
I know others can confirm or correct my recollection on this.
Homer, I believe you are correct, the letter has been taken way out of context; in fact, it’s so out of context as to be libelous, should it ever have come to that.
Yamamoto’s original statement was to the effect that taking on the United States was going to be a formidable task, and that the Americans would not quit fighting until the Japanese dictated peace terms in the White House, an eventuality he did not believe would ever happen. In other words, he counseled against war with America.
This will not be the last time the Times distorts something from the Japanese. The war will end with an incomplete translation of the word “mokusatsu.”