Abstract
As the year 1941 wore on, it become obvious that war was inevitable. The decision on the part of the militarists, who were now definitely in the sadle, was cool and calculated. But, the Japanese miscalculated. In this delusion the Japanese showed themselves to be so blinded by their own nationalistic and militaristic propagand. The Japanese started the war with a successful attack on Peal Harbor at dawn on Sunday, December 8, 1941. The Japanese attitude was no more surprising than the resolution and skill with which the Americans started about the task of turning the page for the Japanese. All too often in recent years the United States has not been prepared for the responsibilities which world leadership has forced upon her, but she was ready for the task in Japan. For years the State Department had been preparing for the problems of post-war Japan, and in the months preceding the surrender an over-all American policy had been agreed upon through the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee. Drawn up by experts, especially Dr. Hugh Borton, unhampered by external political pressures, this policy showed the mark of true statemanship. It was based on the realization that a policy of revenge would only breed harted and unrest. The most important reform of occupational policy was theory concerned the position of the emperor. Many Americans had advocated the trial of the reigning emperor as the major war criminal and the abolition of the monarchy by force. However, Dr. Borton would have thought neither wise nor just. The Potsdom proclamation had promised that the future government of Japan would be "established in accordance with the freely expressed will of the Japanese people", the vast majority of the Japanese continued to venerate the emperor. Moreover, they were aware that the he personally should not be held responsible for the war.
