“It was important to organize air operations against Japanese occupied territory and against Japan itself. It is probable that her collapse will occur as a result of economic blockade, naval pressure, and air bombardment”.
Briand-Kellogg Peace Pact, an instrument whose purpose was to “abolish aggressive war”.
- Among those present was the author of the Pact, Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg.
During the course of the recorded discussions, the following exchange took place:
“Q: Suppose a country is not attacked - suppose there is an economic blockade...?
A: There is no such thing as a blockade [unless] you are in war.
Q: It is an act of war?
A: An act of war absolutely... as I have stated before, nobody on earth, probably, could write an article defining “self defense” or “aggressor” that some country could not get around; and I made up my mind that the only safe thing for any country to do was to judge for itself within its sovereign rights whether it was unjustly attacked and had a right to defend itself and it must answer to the opinion of the world.” Japan’s War of the Pacific was a war of self-defense for the following reasons: - blockade is an act of war; (p. 43,051); - every nation is the judge of what constitutes self- defense (ibid); - no submission to any tribunal is required by the Pact (pp. 42,162; 42,240); - self-defense is not limited to defense of the national territory (p. 42,239); - the Pact does not contain any sanctions, express or implied (pp. 42,163); - breach of treaties does not constitute aggression (p. 42, 191); - American aid to the Chinese made America a belligerent in that war (see Note, below); - declarations of war are not required in self-defense (pp. 42,431-5); - no treaty requires any warning prior to attack (pp. 42,447-8); American aid to the Chinese made America a belligerent in that war
Note: almost no use was made of the argument that America was a belligerent in the China Incident. The Incident was a “conflict” rather than a “war” in the sense that belligerent and neutral rights were not invoked: diplomatic relations were undisturbed; enemy aliens in Japan were not interned, etc. Rather, it was maintained that if it was a war, then American aid to China made America a belligerent subject to attack without formality. The Americans claimed it was a war in which they could participate without becoming a belligerent
I guess not. You see, "belligerant" = "aggressor". We were not the aggressor. Japan was.
Emperor Hirohito, Dec. 8, 1941. Imperial Rescript on War. Radio broadcast to the Japonese people.
We, by the grace of Heaven, Emperor of Japan seated on the throne of a line unbroken for ages eternal, enjoin upon ye, our loyal and brave subjects:
We hereby declare war on the United States of America and the British Empire. (And the French, the Dutch, the Chinese, The Koreans, the Phillipines, The Vietnamese, The Burmese.....)
Men and officers of our Army and Navy shall do their utmost in prosecuting the war, our public servants of various departments shall perform faithfully and diligently their appointed tasks and all other subjects of ours shall pursue their respective duties; the entire nation with united will shall mobilize their total strength so that nothing will miscarry in the attainment of our war aims.
To ensure the stability of East Asia and to contribute to world peace is the farsighted policy which was formulated by our great, illustrious, imperial grandsire and by our great imperial sire succeeding him and which we lay constantly to heart. To cultivate friendship among the nations and to enjoy prosperity in common with all nations has always been the guiding principle of our Empire's foreign policy.( Those fun loving Imperial Japonese, what coots! What madcaps! )
It has been truly unavoidable and far from our wishes that our Empire has now been brought to cross swords with America and Britain.( Insert sad face here ) More than four years have passed since China, failing to comprehend the true intentions of our Empire and recklessly courting trouble, disturbed the peace of East Asia. Although there has been re-established a national government of China with which Japan has effected neighborly intercourse( Well, maybe Nanking was one big love feast, and anyways, she wanted it.) and cooperation, the regime which has survived at Chungking, relying upon American and British protection, still continues its fratricidal opposition.
Eager for the realization of their inordinate ambition to dominate the Orient, both America and Britain, in giving support to the Chungking regime, have aggravated the disturbances(10-15 million dead by this time ) in East Asia. Moreover, these two powers, inducing other countries to follow suit, increased military preparations on all sides of our Empire to challenge us. They have obstructed by every means our peaceful commerce, and finally have resorted to the direct severance of economic relations, menacing gravely the existence of our Empire.
Patiently have we waited and long have we endured in the hope that our Government might retrieve the situation in peace.
But our adversaries, showing not the least spirit of conciliation, have unduly delayed a settlement, and in the meantime they have intensified economic and political pressure to compel thereby our Empire to submission. ( Did you write this part? How old are you, anyways? )
This trend of affairs would, if left unchecked, not only nullify our Empire's efforts of many years for the sake of stabilization of East Asia, but also endanger the very existence of our nation. The situation being such as it is, our Empire, for its existence and self-defense, has no other recourse but to appeal to arms and to crush every obstacle in its path.
Hallowed spirits of our imperial ancestors guarding us from above, we rely upon the loyalty and courage of our subjects in our confident expectation that the task bequeathed by our forefathers will be carried forward and that sources of evil will be speedily eradicated and enduring peace ... immutably established in East Asia, preserving thereby the glory of our Empire.