The last few days of November 60 years ago saw the world gearing up for the most destructive war in history. Both Europe and Asia had been in combat already for quite some time against the powers of Germany and Japan.
America had stood on the sidelines supplying materials to the opponents of Hitler and the Japanese empire, which had already invaded China.
Headlines in The Salisbury Post kept local readers up to date with the atrocities as well as harassment of American shipping.
On Nov. 13, 1941, Post headlines told of Britain’s mechanized African army continuing destruction of Axis motorized defenses. And another headline read: “Jap proposals are studied in capital parley.”
A story by Lloyd Lehrbas said that Japanese proposals for settlement of Pacific problems were “studied for nearly three hours today by Secretary of State Hull and British, Chinese, Dutch and Australian representatives, but no hint was given as to their reaction.
“Likewise, none of the participants in the meeting — the first general gathering of representatives of the ABCD powers whose policies, clashing with Japanese policies, have brought a threat of war to the Far East—would give any clue as to the nature of the Japanese proposals.”
On Nov. 24, the paper reported that U.S.-built tanks were playing a part in the Libya battle. But in the Far East, the paper said: “Jap-U.S. deal takes new turn.” It went on to say:
“A new turn in Japanese-United States relations appeared to be in the making today as the Tokyo foreign office was authoritatively reported to have sent a new, urgent communication to its Washington negotiators.
“The only hint as to the nature of the communication was the warning by Domei, authoritative news agency, that optimism was not warranted. The agency said a new development was expected very shortly. The Washington talks already had shown signs of being a washout, with Japanese leaders expressing undeviating adherence to their expansionist course to which the United States remained adamantly opposed.”
The Nov. 26 paper headed “Axis gains in Russia and Africa,” and “Ribbentrop warns U.S. that even if America enters the war she could not prevent the triumph of Germany and her allies.”
The same issue reported that Americans were urged to leave the Orient, and “Jap-U.S. parley is nearing close.”
The 27th issue of the Post told of Reds facing new odds in Moscow, and the Russian press declaring that Hitler has failed.
While on the other side of the world, Japan was given U.S. demands for a peaceful settlement. A headline read: “Washington parley ends without any compromise reached.”
Reports reaching Washington indicated that Japan was rapidly strengthening her forces in French Indo-China and that troop transports were bringing large shipments of war materials of all kinds into northern and southern Indo-China.
In North Africa on the 27th, Britain’s desert armies appeared to have gained a definite edge in the 11-day-old battle as imperial mechanized legions broadened the vital corridor to Tobruk—presumably wiping out Axis pockets of resistance.”
From the Far East, it appeared that Japanese-American reconciliation was most unlikely. A U.S. spokesman said that everything possible had been done.
By Dec. 2, the Reds were putting the Nazis to flight on the eastern front, but the Axis had the advantage in Libya.
The U.S. was holding firm against Japan’s Pacific scheme for a “new order in Asia” as the price of peace in the Pacific.
While Washington awaited a reply from Japan to U.S. proposals on Dec. 4, the Japanese press “sizzled anew over its alleged ‘encirclement’ of Japan by the ABCD group of America, Britain, China and Dutch East Indies.
In Chungking, a Chinese army spokesman said 40 Japanese warships, including an aircraft carrier with 45 planes aboard, had been spotted in Camranh Bay, on the southeast coast of French Indo-China — a potential springboard for attacks on Singapore, the Dutch East Indies or the Philippines.
By Dec. 6, Post headlines read: “Pacific menace growing; Jap press becomes bitter.” The story went on to say:
“An uneasy peace hung over the Pacific today as the United States waited for Japan to make its choice between conciliation or further attempts at conquest in the Far East.
The next day, Dec. 7, a headline read: “President sends note to Emperor” went on to report: “President Roosevelt went over the heads of Japan’s military government last night (Saturday) and sent a personal message to Emperor Hirohito in the latest diplomatic maneuver of the stalemated Japanese-American negotiations.
“The State Department, which announced the move gave no hint as to the nature of the president’s message, but observers of the explosive Far Eastern situation considered his bold action to be one of tremendous import.”
It was on Dec. 7 that Japanese planes swooped down on Pearl Harbor. The Dec. 8 Post headline read: “America declares war on Japan.” A subhead reported “After suffering 3,000 casualties, vessels and planes lost; Britain joins with U.S.”
Also on the 8th, Canada declared war on Japan.
Four days after the attack, on Dec. 11, 1941, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.
And the stage was officially set for conflict around the world that would continue until it ended on May 7, 1945, in Europe and on Aug. 14 of the same year with Japan.
Contact Franklin Scarborough at 704-797-4245 or news@salisburypost.com
.
Today's News
