by Jeff Shaara
On November 20, Thanksgiving Day, Nomura and Kurusu presented Hull with a new proposal, what they described as the final effort at a negotiated solution to their differences:
Japan and the United States to make no armed advance into any region in Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific area;
Japan to withdraw her troops from Indo-China when peace is restored between Japan and China or an equitable peace is established in the Pacific area;
Japan in the meantime to remove her troops from southern to northern Indo-China, upon conclusion of the present agreement;
Japan and the United States to cooperate toward acquiring goods and commodities that the two countries need in the Netherlands East Indies;
Japan and the United States to restore their commercial relations to those prevailing prior to the freezing of assets, and the United States to supply Japan a required quantity of oil;
The United States to refrain from such measures and actions as would prejudice endeavors for the restoration of peace between Japan and China.
THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON, D.C.—THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1941
“Is this worth a damn?”
Stimson spoke up. “Hell, no. If we were at war with these sons of bitches, this would be our surrender.”
Roosevelt seemed impatient with Stimson’s comment, looked at Hull. “Well?”
“My people have gone over every piece of this. The Magic intercepts have confirmed what we had believed, that they have no intention of making a withdrawal from China. According to Purple, it’s not in their planning right now. In other words, some of what you read here is…bull. They are requiring us to supply them with as much oil as they declare to be necessary, and nowhere here does it mention ending their alliance with Germany. It is reasonable to assume that we would become an open spigot, providing oil to the entire Axis alliance.”
Roosevelt stared down at his desk. “I wonder what Churchill would think of that idea.”
Stimson said, “Not much. He’d be fighting German planes filled with American gasoline.”
Hull said, “That’s certainly a possibility. They offer assurances here that they would not make further forays into Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, though they don’t mention Asia, including Russia, Australia, and that part of China not now occupied. We would be compelled to withdraw aid to China, and allow, or even assist, the Japanese to take whatever resources they wish from the Netherlands East Indies.”
Roosevelt shook his head. “The Dutch would hate us for decades.”
“Yes, sir. Rightfully so.”
“How do you intend to handle this?”
Hull glanced around the office, the military chiefs waiting for his answer, Stimson with a look of utter disgust.
“If we were to agree with these proposals, it would mean we condone Japan’s most hostile and barbaric actions so far. We would be abandoning our allies China and Russia. It would allow Japan to march roughshod over just about any territory she wishes to occupy. And, nowhere here is there any mention of a pledge to maintain friendly relations with us, nor to respect our sovereignty. In other words, we would be giving all, and receiving nothing. I would like to prepare a counterproposal, spell out exactly what we feel must happen, what they must agree to.”
Stimson seemed to growl, said, “Maybe you should tell those bastards to take their demands and put them where the sun…the rising sun doesn’t shine.”
Roosevelt ignored Stimson, looked at the others. “Secretary Knox, any thoughts? It’s your ships that might get pulled into something pretty damn nasty out there.”
Knox looked at General Marshall beside him. “We’ve been anticipating something along these lines since the last Purple intercept. There is no doubt that the Japanese are handing us an ultimatum. We go along, or there will be war. But from all we know of them, they are most likely to strike southward. The greatest threat to us is the Philippines.”
Marshall said, “I agree, but I must emphasize that we need time, Mr. President. I believe that once we’re up and running, no army on earth can match ours. But right now, it would be a serious challenge to wage all-out war, especially since we have to assume the war would be on two fronts. If Japan declares war on us, Hitler would surely follow suit. As I said, sir, we just need a little time. Our best estimate is that the Japanese will make a move against us next spring. That should fit well with our own planning. For now, I certainly support Secretary Hull’s willingness to offer the Japanese a way out, a way for their government to back down from all those threats and still save face. That seems to mean a great deal to those people.”
Roosevelt let out a deep breath, sat back. “I suspect you’re right. Fine, Cordell, put something together as quick as you can. You know these people better than anyone here. Communicate to Ambassador Nomura and that other fellow that we’re still absolutely seeking a peaceful solution to this mess.”
Hull said, “The first step is to officially decline their proposal. I’ll meet with Nomura and Kurusu immediately. I cannot believe they prefer a war. But their government has backed itself, and us, into a corner. General Marshall is correct: I do believe they will go to war to avoid a loss of face.”
Stimson grunted, said, “They will go to war anytime and anyplace it suits them. Saving face has nothing to do with it. The Japanese are notorious for attacking without warning. You can be certain that they will not hesitate to start a war, regardless of how much talking we may do. You can’t trust anything those people say, Cordell, and you know that better than anyone in this room.”
Hull felt buried by a curtain of gloom. “It is hard to disagree. Right now, the Japanese are in control of this situation. We are not.” He looked at Marshall, who showed no expression, staring back at him. “General, if, as you say, we require time to be prepared, I would estimate that they do not. They have been preparing in fact for some time, especially since their alliance with the Germans. I do not believe there is anything further the State Department can do to solve this problem. The word ‘peace’ is easily tossed around by Ambassador Nomura, and it has no more meaning here than it does in Tokyo. The Japanese are likely to break out at any time with acts of substantial force. While I do not shirk my department’s responsibilities, I am convinced that our national security lies in the hands of the army and navy.”
Stimson said, “I assure you, Cordell, you may depend on the military to handle any crisis.”
Hull saw all eyes on him now, a hint of defensiveness in all of them. “I would only add that any plan from our military leaders should include the assumption that the Japanese might make the element of surprise a central point in their strategy. There is simply too much emphasis from their representatives here that all is well, while they speak privately of deadlines. That’s only my opinion, of course. It’s all I can offer you.”
Roosevelt stared at Hull, then at the others. “Thank you, Cordell. I pray you are mistaken, that you misread their intentions. I pray you are all mistaken.” He paused, thought for a moment, the room silent. “I must do what is required, no matter the difficulty, no matter the gravity of the crisis. But I never expected to be a wartime president. I’ve thought about what that means, how that has gone in our history. Woodrow Wilson, McKinley, Lincoln, Polk, Madison. None are truly remembered for that, other than Lincoln. But it doesn’t diminish the awful responsibility. I know there are some who believe we should take the bull by the horns and preemptively crush the Japanese military. Would that make our lives easier? I will not speak for the young men who would have to carry out that policy. Men would die because we were not patient.”
Stimson said, “Men will die whether we’re patient or not.”
“Henry, I will not be the president who started a war, not while there is any possibility of an alternative. Cordell, you’re the champion among us of talk. I do not inte
nd that as an insult. Your opinions are noted, but you are still in daily contact with those people. That is still our priority. Offer them what you have to, and demand what we must have. Dammit, find a way.”
Hull saw the others’ eyes on him, all the military chiefs who seemed to view the situation through a single set of eyes. “Yes, sir. I’ll do what I can, as quickly as possible. I want to believe that they aren’t interested in killing their young men any more than we want to kill ours. They understand what is at stake here.”
Stimson sniffed, glanced at Marshall and Knox. “And if they don’t?”
Roosevelt stared at Stimson, said, “Then, Henry, may God have mercy on our souls.”
TWENTY-SIX
Yamamoto
“By Imperial Order, the Chief of the Naval General Staff orders Yamamoto Commander in Chief of the Combined Fleet as follows: Expecting to go to war with the United States, Britain, and the Netherlands early in December for self-preservation and self-defense, the Empire has decided to complete war preparations. The Commander in Chief of the Combined Fleet will carry out the necessary operational preparations. Its details will be directed by the Chief of the Naval General Staff.”
ONBOARD BATTLESHIP NAGATO, IWAKUNI, JAPAN —MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1941
He had known the order was coming, and was both grateful and skeptical. They will bask in the credit for our success, he thought. Or, they will blame me for getting it all wrong. “Carry out the necessary operational preparations.” There is no casual meaning there. If everything goes wrong, then of course it will mean I did not adequately carry out the preparations.
And what do I believe? Is this the opening act of a magnificent victory, glory to the emperor, perhaps glory for me?
He stood on the upper deck, staring toward the town, the morning sun still below the horizon. He thought of the young men he had trusted, good minds, fertile with ideas. They will take charge of all this, perhaps very soon. The old men cannot adapt to what a war will do to us. They speak of their own experiences, the legacy of our great victories. But that was forty years ago, a fight with the Russians, and the spoils of that great victory were a few islands in the north. Had we lost, then what? We might have given them a few islands of our own. Now the stakes are higher. We will fight now for survival.
Yamamoto had ordered that those ships and aircraft designated to make the journey to Hawaii go through a detailed rehearsal. There was criticism of that, some of the senior officers in Tokyo concerned that it was only a waste of precious fuel. But Yamamoto knew that the exercise was essential, not just for training, but to build the confidence of the men who had to perform the most dangerous mission of their lives.
The rehearsal had been spread out over three days, witnessed and supervised primarily by his chief of staff, Admiral Ugaki. The armada had been maneuvered into attack formation some two hundred miles out to sea, mimicking the approaches to Pearl Harbor as much as possible. The pilots had gone through their routines, bombing runs and torpedo launches, the Zeros rehearsing their positions high above, then diving low in strafing runs. Yamamoto knew it didn’t really matter if the rehearsal ended in success or failure, that nothing would change the plan. Though he had hoped to observe some of the activity, Yamamoto had instead been summoned to Tokyo by the prime minister’s office and the army chiefs, who insisted he be included in meetings to discuss the many parts of the war they were preparing to fight.
The most intriguing part of those meetings had been the puzzle of Hideki Tojo. It had been a great surprise when the prime minister singled Yamamoto out for a private conversation. At first Tojo teased him for keeping secrets, since for most of the year, the army had not been informed what Yamamoto was planning to do. The army ministers had only been notified of the Hawaii plan in October, not long before Tojo had taken power. But there was a menace to Tojo, as though the man trusted no one, and regarded Yamamoto as a potential threat. Yamamoto could only guess that Tojo’s rise to power had come at the forceful expense of others. And so, he would be correct to fear the next in line, who might be just as forceful with him.
There had been another surprise as well. It involved the army’s requisition of his own ships to move a substantial number of soldiers southward. The surprise was that the approval had been given by the Naval Ministry without much debate, and the ships were already preparing to receive their human cargo. Tens of thousands of troops were preparing to make the journeys, whose destinations included Indo-China, the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, and Thailand and, to protect the flank of such a convoy, there would be an invasion force designated to strike the Philippines.
No matter all the concerns that had floated through the Naval Ministry about the risks of starting a war with the United States, the army and Prime Minister Tojo had no such qualms. While Yamamoto’s Hawaii plan was still shrouded in absolute secrecy, the army seemed unconcerned about hiding these southbound invasion forces; if Japan’s enemies learned of the move, so be it. Other than Douglas MacArthur’s B-17s around Manila, there was no force strong enough to put a dent in Tojo’s intentions.
When Yamamoto was finally able to leave Tokyo, he returned to the Nagato, and for a few days at least, he was able to enjoy the sanctuary of his own flagship. Each morning had been the same—awake very early, enjoying the peacefulness of the open decks and the chilly air, a precious hour when he would be unbothered by messages from the fleet or the usual business from his staff.
He looked toward the sun, the first glow out beyond the mouth of the harbor, across the wide ocean. Tojo knows nothing of ships and airplanes, he thought, but he understands the notion of attack. Perhaps he is one of the few who truly believes in war, a man with no fear, no hesitation, a man willing to drive a nail into a board with his head. Our plan has audacity, and so he is happy. How will he feel two years from now, when the great American giant has been awakened, when they strike back at us with a power we cannot yet imagine? And what of the British? The Dutch? The Australians?
No, do not think on all of that. Tojo is with you. Most of them are with you. For now, they have left full command of the Hawaii force with you. Be pleased with that.
He watched a small fishing boat slide past, an elderly man ignoring the great ship as he moved by. Yamamoto smiled, thought, What do you know of our world, old man? Do you believe war is a positive thing, that your life will be better? Or are we just an annoyance, my beautiful battleship blocking you from a good fishing hole? Do you have a young son, a grandson perhaps? To him, our war will be more than an annoyance. The young men will fight, they will have to fight. It is simply the way.
“Sir?”
He turned to the young officer, realized it was raining, said, “Yes, what is it, Ensign?”
“Sir, you have a guest. She has been escorted to just outside your quarters.”
Yamamoto couldn’t help a smile, thinking, It has been so long. But he imagined the awkwardness she must feel, standing in a cold passageway, probably with a guard.
“You do not leave her standing there, Ensign. You will immediately allow her entry to my quarters. Is Admiral Ugaki aware of her arrival?”
“I’m not certain, sir.”
“Once she is in my quarters, inform him of her presence. I must know well in advance when we are getting under way, so she may leave the ship. She will not accompany us to Saeki Bay.”
“Understood, sir. It shall be done.”
The young ensign moved away quickly, and Yamamoto blinked through the misty wetness, brushed at the dampness on his coat. Present yourself well, Admiral. She will expect that.
He followed the trail of the young ensign, climbed the first ladder, moved past sailors who watched him with knowing glances. But they said nothing, made no impolite comments he would ever hear. I wonder how she climbed through the passageways, he thought. Somehow she is just there, and there is never a complaint. I should have a talk with the officer
of the deck. Perhaps someone carries her. He laughed as he moved to the next ladder. Now, there is a magnificently awful idea. She would no doubt prefer to carry me. And that would not look good to the crew.
His mood had lightened considerably, and he stopped outside of his quarters, caught his breath from the climb. He heard a noise from inside, pulled open the hatchway, saw her bending low beside his bed. He waited as she finished sweeping dust from the deck with a small broom. He cleared his throat and she stood, turned to him, hands now on her hips.
“How do you create such a mess? You make dirt just by standing there. I do not understand how you can tolerate these conditions.”
“Sorry, my flower. It seems that you do enjoy cleaning up after me. I like providing you entertainment so early in the morning.”
She glared at him, but he knew she was not angry. It was all just a part of their game.
“This is not entertainment, Admiral. It is necessity. You require a healthy place to sleep. Since neither you nor your officers will make that effort, I will.”
“Who escorted you here?”
“Your wonderfully kind staff officer, Captain Kuroshima.”
“Did he carry you?”
“Am I to laugh at your poor joke? I am quite capable of climbing ladders. And he did not drop a single ash on me from his cigarette.”
“Now who makes poor jokes?” He smiled at her, and she bowed toward him. The game had passed, and she returned his smile, the soft warmth of her eyes spreading through him. He caught the flowery fragrance of her perfume, said, “I have suffered long nights without you. I am sorry we could not be together in Tokyo. It was a tedious nightmare. I wanted you here, even if for a short time. This might be the only place I truly feel…safe. I am so very happy you are here.”