... conspiracy theory, which claims that President Roosevelt withheld vital information from responsible officers, thus keeping the Pacific Fleet in Hawaii open for attack, with the intention of U.S. involvement in the European War. Roosevelt knew it would be impossible to obtain support for war from Congress, and it was obvious that Germany had no intention of declaring war on America. His only alternative was war with Japan, which in turn would constitute a war with Nazi Germany. The attack could be provoked by increasing hostilities with Japan. Roosevelt provided continued financial and military aid to China, Britain, and the Netherlands, alongside a freezing of Japanese assets and trade in July of 1941, only a few months before the surprise attack. Naval advisors had stated it was not advisable to retain the Pacific Fleet in Hawaii, but President Roosevelt objected to their advice, proclaiming it was necessary to keep the Fleet at ...

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