Britain, Japan and Pearl Harbour: Avoiding War in East Asia, 1936-1941 - Hardcover

"Best places into sharp focus two contentious issues: first, that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 was not inevitable, and second, that this attack obscures the significance and impact of Britain's Pacific interest on Anglo-American-Japanese relations.... A well written book that can spark debate about the diplomatic prelude to war in the Pacific." -"CHOICE, 2/96

Recent controversies about Pearl Harbour have highlighted the need for a new assessment of British policy towards Japan during the period leading up to the Pacific War. Britain, Japan and Pearl Harbour provides a thorough and authoritative account of British efforts to avert conflict with Japan, and makes use of the most recently released material from British archives, including information from intelligence sources.
This is the most comprehensive study so far of British policy towards East Asia in this period. It illustrates the extent of British weakness in the region and the degree to which the constant need to appease American opinion hamstrung Britain's ability to achieve an understanding with Japan.