The political climate in the Pacific area in 1940 was filled with termoil. The Japanese had extended their empire south through French Indochina and the Japanese Army was invading China, conquering a third of the country. The United States of America was shocked to see this after witnessing Hitler and his Nazi's conquer most of Europe. So, the American's had placed embargoes on their extensive trade with Japan and both countries were negotiating to try to solve their differences.

The U.S. tried to negotiate with the Japanese to try to avoid war, trying to convince them that if war broke out between Japan and the United States, Japan, in the long run, would be devestated. So, Secretary of State Cordell Hull and Japanese ambassador Namura and Kiruzo talked on how to solve this crisis. These negotiations proceeded into the summer of 1941.By this time; the Japanese had realized...