A Brief History
On October 7, 1940, the Director of the Far East Section of the Office of Naval Intelligence, Lt. Cmdr. Arthur McCollum, sent an infamous memo up his chain of command that seems to recommend the United States provoke Japan into attacking US forces, thus allowing the US an excuse to enter World War II (WWII) in spite of President Franklin Roosevelt’s promise to stay out of the war.
Digging Deeper
McCollum was responsible for reading and interpreting the decoded intercepts of Japanese secret radio traffic and for monitoring the political and military situation in the Far East. In 2001 a book by Robert Stinnett, Day of Deceit: The Truth About FDR and Pearl Harbor, made the case that Roosevelt intentionally sacrificed the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor to a Japanese attack intentionally provoked by US actions as a pretense to allow Roosevelt to get the US into World War II. FDR knew the American people wanted to stay out of foreign entanglements and would not stand for a violation of his campaign promise to keep out of the war, so he needed a casus belli that would give him the support of the people in entering the war.
Many US military and political leaders expected Japanese reaction to US provocation and embargo of vital raw materials to generate offensive action by Japan, and Admiral Chester Nimitz refused command of the Pacific Fleet so as to avoid being made a scapegoat for the inevitable debacle a surprise attack would generate.
McCollum did not have a direct line to President Roosevelt, and himself denied advocating for intentionally triggering war with Japan, facts overlooked by Stinnett in his book. Still, the Eight Actions recommended by McCollum certainly could be expected to infuriate the Japanese and quite possibly provoke an attack, if not certainly provoking war. The deployment of ground and naval forces including submarines into territory Japan wanted to control, support of the Chinese under Chiang Kai Shek, and support of the Dutch against Japanese demands for concessions all seemed sure to provoke the Japanese. The last “action,” that of the US embargo against Japan on all trade by US and Britain would likely be the last straw and almost force the Japanese to attack the US and Britain.
Despite any proof that President Roosevelt ever even saw the McCollum memo Stinnett’s book led to widespread acceptance of the theory that FDR and the US intentionally goaded Japan into attacking Pearl Harbor, although it says nothing about whether or not the attack was intentionally permitted to succeed so spectacularly. Other mainstream historians’ analysis of the memo and the broader situation come to the conclusion that there was no conspiracy to provoke a Japanese attack and no intention of hiding the coming attack from US military commanders in the Pacific. The subject remains open to debate, like so many others.
Question for students (and subscribers): Do you think the US intentionally provoked war with Japan as an excuse for entering WWII on the side of Britain? Do you think Pearl Harbor was a US conspiracy that sacrificed American lives for a political agenda? Please share your thoughts and opinions on these subjects with your fellow readers in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Stinnett, Robert. Day Of Deceit: The Truth About FDR and Pearl Harbor. Free Press, 2001.
The featured image in this article, a retouched picture of the wreckage of the USS Arizona ablaze after the attack, has been digitally altered from its original version. The original can be viewed here: The USS Arizona (BB-39) burning after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor – NARA – 195617.tif. Modifications were made by Mmxx. This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 without a copyright notice.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="14748 https://www.historyandheadlines.com/?p=14748">79 Comments
In all honestly, if someone is going to provoke you into doing something, you probably will end up doing it to prove a point just like FDR did. I don’t blame him for defending out country at this time.
Its crazy that some people believe that FDR planned and new about pearl harbor. That is a serious accusation to make.
I mean I understand we have some bad politicians but knowing and allowing all those ships to go down and the amount of life loss to happen I just can’t see it. How could you sleep at night if you allowed that to happen?
I don’t think that FDR had prior knowledge of the Pearl Harbor attack, but I do think he thought we should join the war before we did. I don’t think we provoked Japan either. I believe they thought we were weak by staying neutral and thought we would go down easy.
I do not believe that FDR had any previous knowledge of Pearl Harbor. I also do not believe that there is any president to this day who would know about the possible death of many Americans and do nothing about it.
There are always going to be wonder on what provokes any war, and I just think this is one opinion. I do not believe FDR thought we should enter the war. Besides he knew the American people did not want to get involved. By staying neutral and not taking a side actually did not do the United States any good for once.
I could not see FDR wanting to provoke Japan into attacking U.S. forces as an excuse to enter WWII, especially after he promised to stay out of foreign affairs. This event took the lives of many innocent people at Pearl Harbor and would cost many soldiers their lives.
There are many conspiracies about some of President’s actions. I do not think that FDR provoked Japan. I think FDR was trying to stay out of the war because it was what the American people wanted.
Conspiracy theories really interest me. I do not believe that FDR wanted to join the war effort though.
There is always doubt when it comes to conspiracy theories but I really think Japan planned all along to attack the U.S. specifically at Pear Harbor. It was part of a strategic plan to gain control over Southeast Asia. The U.S. had to be prepared but I find it hard to believe FDR would sacrifice so many lives especially left as sitting ducks.
I read another article that stated that Japan never sent out code specifically stating an attack on Pearl Harbor. Therefore, FDR could not have known about the attack and allowed it to happen.
The fact that FDR knew that the American people wanted to stay out of foreign entanglements reminds me of the politics of today. Overall, the relationship with other countries is a hot topic and is readily debated today.
Political affairs are hard to follow, but it would be a shame if leaders would blatantly ignore the thoughts of the people. I know it often happens, but I cannot imagine it on this big of a scale with FDR and WWI.
I dont think that FDR was the type of man to sacrifice human lives to provoke a war
Although many articles I’ve read make me wonder about this event being known of beforehand, I personally do not think that FDR was aware of this, or at least I hope not. That attack killed over 2,000 men. Why would the U.S. want to sacrifice their own military to join a war that those same men would have been able to help fight in? They even lost war weapons like their battleships that would have helped in war.
I have read additional material that speculates President Roosevelt’s involvement and knowledge of Japan’s attack. Roosevelt imposed bans on trade that drastically affected Japan’s economy and access to resources. I do not believe that President Roosevelt intentionally provoked Japan. I believe the act of war was in retaliation to the hardships Roosevelt’s bans caused.
I have never before heard of this concept that FDR would have an involvement in Japan’s attack. I feel that this is faulty and could not be right. I do not see why Roosevelt would want to sacrifice so many of his own men as the President of America. If anything, I feel that he would want to bring as much peace as possible.
I do not believe that Pearl Harbor was a US conspiracy that sacrificed American lives for a political agenda. Pearl Harbor brought nothing but pain to the United States.
I don’t believe FDR would involve in the Japan’s attack.
I disagree that FDR pushed for Pearl Harbor to occur. Prior to reading this article I have never this conspiracy. I don’t understand how or why he would want to sacrifice so many people.
I have to agree with Shannon, I do not believe that FDR pushed for Pearl Harbor to occur.
There’s no way FDR wanted Pearl Harbor to happen.
I have never heard of this theory before. The only explanation I ever got for Pearl Harbor is the Japanese wanted to take Hawaii.
I had never heard of this idea and theory before reading this article, the only reasoning that I was ever taught was that Hawaii was the closest thing for Japan to attack and do the most damage
I’ve heard that we were restricting Japanese trade (mainly oil) which was hurting them severely economically. This was kind of the like poking the bear with the stick but when the bear attacks you he realizes that you are a lion. And to believe that FDR planned this is absurd to me.
understanding its like a bullying thing here, but i don’t think the FDR wanted the war or invasion on pearl harbor to happen, but then again you never know what tricks people have up their sleeve.
I thought it was because Hawaii was closest for Japan. I’ve never heard any theories until now
Some people think anything and everything bad that happens is a conspiracy which is ridiculous to me.
After every tragedy people make up so many theories, just like the government being behind 9-11.
I do not believe the US government had anything to do with Pearl Harbor. People always make up conspiracy theory’s after a tragic event happens.
I do not believe that FDR had anything to do with Pearl Harbor. We did not have the amount of troops desired yet, so i doubt he would call for an attack.
I believe this is a bunch of rubbish, no president would plan for their entire fleet to be took out all at once.
FDR did not have anything to do with Pearl Harbor. There is always some kind of blame put on someone else.
Its just a conspiracy theory just like “Bush did 911”.
Right away when I read the headline it made me sick that people even think that. Same thing with Bush doing 9/11. It hurts me to even think that. If it is true, I never want to know.
I do not believe a year long planned attacked could be invoked by FDR. Too much conspiracy from people who cannot accept the truth.
There are always going to be conspiracy theories, especially with presidents. Bush did 911, Obama is a Muslim. I do not think this is true, but I have never heard of this conspiracy theory!
i had never heard that people may have thought the FDR “planned Pearl Harbor,” but the thought that someone would do such a thing is unnerving. Personally, I do not think that FDR provoked Japan or planned the attack on our country.
It doesn’t matter what the situation, someone, somewhere will make up a conspiracy about it, regardless of facts.
Your right someway somehow a conspiracy comes out. It happens all the time. Look at now all the conspiracies on the World Trade Center.
I cant agree more.No matter the circumstance someone will come up with nothing new each day.
It is great U.S tried to not get involved in World War II but when the bombing of Pearl Harbor just took what we didn’t want and that was another war. We couldn’t stand by while the Japanese bombed our Nation.
It would not surprise me in the least to find out that this is true. It would also not surprise me if this was a conspiracy theory.
Many leaders who go against their supervision take several steps to make thing happen the way they want them to happen. This doesn’t surprise me at all. I just hope it doesn’t happen like this and cause a WWIII
I am unfamiliar with FDR and a conspiracy with Pearl Harbor, it almost seems like anytime something terrible happens their is some kind of conspiracy with it.
The argument that FDR knew about the attack is a good one. The likelihood that FDR knew the severity of the attack, was probably small. It is doubtful that he would allow this many men to die at the hands of the enemy.
I would not be surprised if they did agree to such an atrocity. Shame that this is even a discussion. Politics are so corrupt.
I don’t think the President knew that Japan was going to attack Pearl Harbor, because Pearl Harbor was a vital post in the protection of West Coast. The President was trying to throw his weight around against Japan to start a fight, but he was not excepting for Japan to come after Pearl Harbor because if we would have loss Pearl Harbor completely the war would had a different result.
I’m not sure of FDR would do something like that but its funny that I had read the President Bush did something similar with the WTC bombing. He was aware the attacks were imminent and did not act to protect the people.
I believe that politics can be so corrupt at times! I would hope that FDR wouldn’t do something that would end up hurting his own country, but it will most likely always be a mystery.
FDR did not know about Pearl Harbor (Prior to the horrific event). The bombing at Pearl Harbor was one of the worst things to ever happen to the United States and It was 100% unexpected. The Japanese had been planning this attack for years prior.
Pearl Harbor was not known before it actually happened. There were so many deaths and the whole event was too tragic for someone to know that that was going to happen. As a leader, I wouldn’t want that many people to die on my hands.
Pearl Harbor was such a tragedy that hit the hearts of every American. I can’t imagine that the leader of our country would be responsible for it.
I have heard many theories about Franklin Roosevelt knowing in advance about Pearl Harbor. I hope it isn’t true because so many innocent people died. However, America was standing by watching total destruction in Europe. Many Americans viewed this as a European conflict. There needed to be conflict on American soil for Roosevelt to have the backing of the American people.
I’m not 100% knowledgeable on the in’s and out’s of Pearl Harbor, but I cannot imagine that any US president would want to send his men and women into war. I feel that being that we are such a powerful force in the world of political matters, that it would have been hard for us to stay out of WWII completely.
The deployment of ground and naval forces including submarines into territory Japan wanted to control support of the Chinese.
I agree, I don’t think we could have stayed out of WWII
The reason we had an embargo against Japan was because they were invading countries like China and French Indochina. The Japanese were committing horrible crimes in those countries which is why we cut the Japanese off.
I find it hard to belie that the US intentionally provoked war with Japan as an excuse for entering WWII on the side of Britain. In my opinion, FDR was one of our greatest presidents. I have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that Pearl Harbor was a US conspiracy that sacrificed American lives for a political agenda. Something like this would make the US political leaders look heartless that they were willing to sacrifice American troops to further their own political plans for war.
I do not think it was possible for the United States to stay out of WWII.
It is my hope that our President current or past would not intentionally provoke a war. I do not think WWII was provoked nor do I think we could have avoided it.
I can’t allow myself to believe that a United States president would willingly sacrifice our own troops as a means to get what he wants. That is just not something I want to believe someone could be capable of.
I would hope that one would not sacrifice our own people just to secretly enter a war. I do not put it past him though. It seems, even today, things are done by the government to get points across or use a situation to exploit another.
This is one take on WWII that I had not heard before. FDR is revered throughout history for being the one that responded appropriately and effectively after the Pearl Harbor attack. However, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if his motives and pretenses weren’t exactly of pure and he sacrificed the entire U.S. Pacific Fleet because of a political agenda.
I have heard these accusations before. I think it makes a lot of sense that FDR’s embargos on oil and other raw materials may be seen as provoking the Empire of Japan. U.S involvement in WWII was inevitable, and FDR would need a reason to join that America could get behind. I think it is a stretch to say that FDR intentionally sacrificed so many United States Navy men. However, Revenge became the name of the game after Pearl Harbor and everyone supported FDR’s decision to attack Japan and enter WWII.
Unfortunately it seems with politics and historical events, someone is always analyzing and wondering if there is a hidden agenda. I often wonder the same things, as it is easy to fall into believing these theories, or at the very least; question them.
I can draw a parallel to the claim that FDR intentionally sacrificed the US Pacific Fleet in order to enter WWII to the claim that George W. Bush was behind 9/11 so he could go to war with Iraq. With any significant event in history you will have conspiracy theories. I highly doubt that it was the case in either event, but I will admit it is entirely possible.
I agree with Kyle’s statement in drawing a parallel to FRD and Bush regarding desire to go to war. There is a lot in government stances and communications we will never know, thus we will always have conspiracy theories.
After doing a little digging, I found some perspectives from historians that suggest that FDR was indeed not aware of Japan’s intention to bomb Pearl Harbor, and I am inclined to agree with that view. It makes the most sense that the American government might have only sought to hinder Japan economically through the embargo, which would allow them to “attack” the Axis power without direct war. It is believable that FDR could have foreseen such an actions provoking Japan in some way, but I don’t believe he intended to put his own military on the line.
The aforementioned source can be found here: http://www.npr.org/2016/12/06/504449867/no-fdr-did-not-know-the-japanese-were-going-to-bomb-pearl-harbor
The government has done things before to basically trick the American population into thinking a certain way, I wouldn’t doubt we knew about, possibly even helped construct Pearl Harbor or 911. It sounds terrible, but we have more to gain being at war financially. I suppose we will have to wait until files are leaked or unclassified to find out!
I’ve never been one to delve into politics and such, but I am a believer in conspiracy theories. This article made me think….. do we really know the truth about why we go to war or have gone to war?? Are we always told the truth?
This was a very interesting article. I am not sure of FDRs involvement but I do think that we had to step in at some point.
Eek, such hard questions to answer. The latter of the questions would not be answered on this platform as to the sensitive nature of the question. However, with that being said, we, as the American people, can only hope that our government does not intentionally provoke war.
That would be messed up if FDR intentionally had Japan attack us just so we could enter WWII.
I sometimes feel like we don’t actually know the truth about what goes on in this world.. it’s sad to say, but true.
There is a history of conspiracy in this country and we never know the whole story of anything. It would not surprise me if this is true about FDR.
i don’t think USA had any plan about FDR. if they have any plans, people would understand it, because every country want to be the king
Great article by showing Roosevelt was putting US into world war II. People were fighting against their country all over the place.
Just because he did not have a direct line does not mean there weren’t communications. There is always a way to get what you want when it comes to politics.