Did FDR have prior knowledge of the Pearl Harbor bommings and tolerate it to promote US participation in WW2?

Question

if he did have advanced knowledge, what was it?

and

why would he hold back this information?

Answer 1

Yes, he had prior knowledge.  The British had allerted the U.S. of the Japanese strike force's departure from their home ports but lost them in the Pacific.  There were certain elements of the U.S. Navy that were scrambling to crack the full codings of the Japanese military's radio transmissions.  Those in the know kept the President aprized with whatever intel they were able to gleen.  The U.S. was already involved in a covert war against the Japanese in China.  The missing pieces to the puzzle were esentially involving the question of "when."

Would he with hold this information?  You could make a strong case to that end.  Typically Democrat, he was not a huge fan of the military -- yes he'd served as SecNav, but that posting was more a means to an end politically and little more.  Did he with hold?  I doubt it.  There were enough mixed messages being sent from Washington, no one at that point, needed his "help."

Answer 2

  Yes and no. US intellegence, military and civilian, definitely knew the Japanese were planning some sort of attack on American interests in the Pacific. Pearl Harbor was one of those interests. But the information was piecemeal, and it would have taken luck and/or a central collection point for all the pieces to be put together enough to have anticipated the Pearl Harbor attack on that day and time.

   There is also an element of racism involved in how the information was looked at. No one though the "j**s" could pull off an attack like Pearl Harbor successfully. Or that they would turn out to be such tough and tenacious fighters. Also, there was the expectation that Japan would abide by the "rules of war" and declare war on the US before attacking. In fact, the Japanese attempted to do just this, arranging for the US ambassador to deliver a declararation of war minutes before the attack was scheduled to occur. Because of miscommunications and delay, he was late in his task, and thus Pearl Harbor became a sneak attack by the cowardly Japanese in American eyes.

   There is no more than circumstantial evidence to believe FDR had knowledge of the attack. Also, it would have served the US interests to have put their troops on alert that morning, allow the Japanese aircraft to attack, and decimate them over Hawaii. The attack would have served to get public backing for war, and it would have given American troops and sailors better morale going into the war, never ind cutting casualties and damage. So I see no compelling reason to believe that the Japanese were allowed to attack despite prior warning, and for so many American lives and ships to be killed or damaged.

Answer 3

Absolutely not.  If he had prior knowledge he would have allowed the Japanese to walk into an ambush and destroy them like the American forces did at Midway when they had prior knowledge of a Japanese attack.  If he had known about the attack they would have suffered far less damage to the fleet and still have the excuse needed to go to war so it makes no sense to think that he allowed the Japanese to destroy so many ships.

Answer 4

No, not to my knowledge.  I've studied Pearl Harbor now for 25+ years and have yet to read, see, hear any good source that states FDR knew that an attack on Pearl Harbor was going to happen (Britain might have known, but I also believe that Churchill would've kept that quiet to get the US into the war).

Answer 5

Due to Japan attacking Chinese cities during the 30,'s,and Japan hoarding any and all materials such as oil,steel, and food,FDR suspected an attack on the U.S. or one of it's major bases such as Subic Bay or Hawaii would be made but he wasn't sure how or when.

Pearl Harbor was SUPPOSED to go off without a hitch. The Japanese Ambassador was supposed to present Secretary of State Hull with an ultimatum to remove the military presence from Hawaii to be replaced by a Japanese fleet standing by to the North.

But the message was broken up into fourteen pieces for security reasons and the person who was to translate the entire document got sick. He was then replaced by another embassy translator who wasn't very experienced . Also along the line someone must have forgotten there's a time difference from Hawaii to Washington,D.C. and if the ultimatum was refised,the attack would take place at about 7:00 a.m..

The translation from code took longer than expected and thinking the ultimatum was refused,the Japanese commander ordered the attack.

By the time the Japanese ambassador come to the State Department,the attack had already been over for an hour.

Answer 6

According to this source, yes. It also lists books written on the subject.

October 16, 1941, Secretary of War Henry Stimson wrote in his diary:

" We face the delicate question of the diplomatic fencing to be done so as to be sure Japan is put into the wrong and makes the first bad move ---- overt move." Then on Nov. 25,1941 Stimson wrote in his diary : " The question was how we should manuever the Japanese into the position of firing the first shot... "

According to Robert B. Stinnet's book " Day of Deceit: The Truth about FDR and Pearl Harbor " FDR and his cabinet had prior knowledge obtained through their daily reading of decoded Japanese diplomatic and naval messages during the months prior to the attack. The attack was not a surprise to FDR, Churchill,  and some members of FDR's cabinet. They might not of known the exact time or place, but they knew something was going to happen.

The reason was because back in those days, war had to be declared by Congress, not just the President. A " surprise " attack by Japan would convince Congress to declare war against Japan and her ally, Germany, then what FDR, Churchill and Stalin wanted could happen,like you said, America's participation in the war.

Answer 7

No, F.D.R. did not need an attack to promote participation in WW II.  The U.S. was already involved in the war in Europe and had been for months.  The Japanese were so certain of their power that a delegation from the Japanese Embassy was waiting in the the hallway, outside the Oval Office to demand the surrender of the Hawaiian Islands to Japan.  Their timing was thrown off a bit and their message came too late.

Answer 8

Japanese Hornets with their small and active jetfighters had long eagered to attack the Pearl  Harbour. Their goal was very obvious, totally destroyed the American No. 7 Hornet Fleet and 3 more others.

The distance was too far. Through the mist and cold foster weather of the Pacific Ocean in the middle of nowhere, their jetfighters took off thousand upon thousand.

It was Sunday when the border guard discovered there were something moving towards the direction of Pearl Harbour. Saturday and Sunday usually people went dancing... The border guard phoned to their headquarter to report. The response was might be they were a training going on. That was normal. Until 8:30am when the j**s started wanton bombing frenzily, the Americans learned it was too late.

But the j**s had got Pearl Harbour and their topedors had hit on many warships but the No. 7 Hornet Fleet and 2 more key warships.

Fortunately, they were on missions and not returned to the harbour yet.

American`s very secret frontier not even many Americans knew it but the j**s had long sent their esponages of all walks of live probing their noise very quietly there.

Answer 9

Good question.

I remember my father stationed in the Navy at San Diego right before Pearl Harbor started, he said on walking to the station, he would go by huge yards of scrap metal being sent to Japan.

I dont think so, but Kimmel was hung out to dry for it.