Did Franklin D Roosevelt know about pearl Harbor in Advance?

Question

I know there is a theory about this. Saying that he wanted to get involved with the war. Is there any evidence to support this theory?

Answer 1

He anticipated that there would be an attack in the Pacific but he did not know where.If you think your country was unprepared for an attack imagine how surprised the British were when Singapore was attacked.The mistake Japan made goes like this the only fleet that could interfere with an attack on Singapore was the fleet at Pearl Harbor.They assumed that if Singapore were attacked that the U.S.would get involved.There is no evidence that your country would have got directly involved if Pearl Harbor had not been attacked.The attack on Pearl Harbor was a major tactical blunder.Once Roosevelt declared war on Japan Germany as an ally of Japan declared war on the United States.My uncle had advised the British that the causeway between Malaya and Singapore could be crossed in 1000 places and they ignored his warning and were totally unprepared when attack came by land.

Answer 2

Your question: "Did Franklin D Roosevelt know about pearl Harbor in Advance? I know there is a theory about this. Saying that he wanted to get involved with the war. Is there any evidence to support this theory?"



Do you mean as in:



Aide: "Mr. President, the Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor."



Franklin: "Pearl Harbor? Where is that?"

Answer 3

The Navy knew for years we might be at war with Japan some day so they played war games between the US Navy and Japanese Imperial Navy and the even speculated they might bomb Pearl Harbor but they thought the harbor was too shallow to use torpedoes and they also thought we had adequate defenses with out air power and our new radar device. We also thought the logistics of sending carriers that far without detection would be near impossible but we still thought they might try. So we anticipated a possible attack but thought we could detect it or defend against it. We did not know the exact date of the attack and we did not see the Japanese fleet coming when they did because they took a northern course through sea lanes that were not well traveled and they maintained complete radio silence. Also our admirals did not believe that air-power could sink battleships so easily because they were Battleship admirals despite the warnings of Billy Mitchell who demonstrated how bombs could sink a battleship.

Answer 4

I've never heard or seen anything that would suggest that! I was born in 1929, and learned to read by going over the daily newspapers! (They were MUCH MORE INTERESTING THAN THE DICK AND JANE READERS...(or whatever they were back then). I DO remember that before Pearl Harbor, Japan had invaded Indonesia, for its natural resources of hard-wood timber, oil and rubber! F,D.R/ America was protesting politically, that invasion! Evidently, back then the Japanese Admirals held a lot of power, and they advocated that Japan attack Pearl Harbor in retaliation for America's interference in Japan's business! One Admiral, however, disagreed, saying that "...that would be like attacking a hornets' nest!" And, HOW RIGHT HE WAS! AND THE WAR WAS ON!

Answer 5

I feel he did know about it, and used it as an excuse to get into WW2.



He basically allowed the murder and death of all of those men and women. He had prior knowledge and what did he do? He just let them die.



And for what?



I feel the reason was for financial stocks and bonds, "buy-backs" or trade-offs.



The primary motivator was for the acquisition of money.



There was no legitimate threat by Hitler. It was a European problem, not Americas problem, and that's how the majority felt. Yes, America put and oil embargo on Japan, but that was no reason for Japan to attack the US.



The only benefit was if the US could OWN or receive money through a large asset like a stock, bond, or territory.



And if money was not the motivator. I fear it might be something much more sinister and worse:

Fabian or world socialism. World domination.



The communist empire flourished after WW2, maybe that was the intent all along.

Fighting the Japanese HELPED the Communists win in China, and in the Korean war and up to Vietnam.



In Europe, we did something foolish, presuming Russia to be our Allie. I feel on deep introspection of Americas involvement in Europe, was to create a miniature "lab rat state" of Fabian socialism. Just to see how it does.



However, maybe there was an unknown group or allies that tried to stop the spread of tyranny, AKA Communism, which explains why the Soviet Union, never could get as much power as it could have, without the dedication of those who fought against it, including the Germans and the Third Reich. Or it might be the reverse of that, but Im just thinking out loud.

Answer 6

There is no evidence that FDR knew about Japan’s secret attack on Pearl Harbor. We were at peace with Japan; they was no reason to suspect such an attack and in fact Japan wanted to control Asian areas, especially to get control of oil producing areas. The attack was senseless.



FDR wanted to get involved in the war in Europe. The Republicans in the Senate led by Henry Cabot Lodge would not hear of it. To their mind WWI was a mistake; they were not going to get into another European war. As President FDR did everything he could to support the Allie, giving them “All support short of war.” The biggest program was Lend Lease, providing war materials to Britain in return for using British military installations. The whole this was a subterfuge as British military installations were of no value unless we were at war. But FDR got away with it.



Then, on April 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor causing great distraction and loss of lives, both military and civilian. We were at war.

Answer 7

He knew they were going to be attacked, but he did not know where or when



The japanese fleet COULD have attacked many places and commit the 1st "overt"



The pacific is huge and the US had many bases, Since there was no way the US pacific fleet could cover all of them its stupid to suggest FDR committed treason as "armouror" suggests

this is just stupid

"This FDR order to allow a Japanese attack was aid to the enemy - explicit treason"

You dont know where/when you are going to be attacked, you cannot protect everywhere all the time, so its nothing to do with "allowing them" its more "you cant stop them unless you are damned lucky in being in the right place at the right time"

your ONLY options are - attack them 1st and commit the 1st overt attack (which FDR didnt want) or take defensive measures and wait until THEY attack and commit the 1st overt act (which is what FDR wanted and the US did)



(dont know why armouror" goes to great lengths it show the US knew it was going to be attacked by japan



Its never been disputed they knew that well before dec 7th



the only question is - did they know where and when?



There is no evidence they knew it was going to be pearl harbour dec7

I emphasise "knew" - they may have guessed or estimated

But neither of these are "knowledge"





"Historic Fact and Undisputed on 29 Nov 1941.- Hull told reporters the attack would take place in Pearl Harbour on 7 dec"

If THIS is an historic fact then HULL committed treason by revealing secret info to the public.

His ONLY excuse would be to claim he did NOT know the time and place as fact but it was only HIS estimation of the situation

In this case his telling reporters would be irrelevant to showing the US knew the time and place of the attack, but was just an unlucky coincidence (for hull) that his estimate turned out to be fact



(in fact the US had already carried out evaluations of japan's possible attack plans and come up with the probability that pearl harbour would be the target even to it being on early sunday morning (but they estimated it would be 7 days earlier than the actual date)



The MOST important thing to grasp is that military evaluations are not the same as known facts



So to claim the US "knew" where and when is a vast overestimate of their "knowledge"

Answer 8

"I know there is a theory about this. Saying that he wanted to get involved with the war. Is there any evidence to support this theory?"



*waves from Canada*



He did want to get into the war; what he wanted more was to stay in office with the US public in a very Isolationist mood so more importantly he wouldn't risk losing an election over public opinion - even after Pearl Harbour the USA did not nor were going to declare war against Germany with public mindset being "we have our war, they have theirs" referring to Europe isn't the USAs problem.



No FDR would not have just allowed Pearl Harbour to happen *but* that in essense is exactly what the USA allowed to happen.

- in the early morning hours the picket destroyer assigned patrol duty in defense of the harbour was USS Shaw that in fact spotted a midget submarine trailing an American freighter coming into port, attacked it with it's main gun causing it to submerge then dropped depth charges.. and reported same to port authorities

(this report ignored pending further confirmation)

- An experimental US Army radar station picked up the incoming Japanese dive-bombers as they approached the coast, although unknowing of who or that that formation of aircraft was the radar operator duly reported it to his commander.

(who in turn blew it off believe they were an expected flight of B-17s from the mainland)



All this happened in quick succession and even if word didn't quite reach FDR or make it to him being blocked by channels, the USA still did drop the ball.. and ever since mistakes have been rewritten into conspiracy.

No FDR was hardly the type to just let an enemy take full advantage.

Answer 9

There's a conspiracy theory question if I have ever heard one, right up there with the second shooter of JFK, which, I believe to be accurate. As for Zach, not only did W. know, he played a part in it, just like his father played a part in JFK assassination. Conspiracy theories are real and are more than just smoking guns. Just like the RNC staff who says voters don't select nominees for President, "They Do". I think they just gave the Criminal Clinton the keys to the White House. Yeah, FDR probably knew quite a bit more then we will ever be told.

Answer 10

It was known that there would be an attack, but they didn't expect the Japanese to travel so far to Pearl Harbor. I don't think FDR knew either.

Answer 11

I don't know did George W Bush know about 9/11 in advance

Answer 12

Probably the same way today's leaders are aware of attacks. There are threats on the regular. It's just being vigilant and hoping security and armies are prepped. I'm not sure he knew when it'd be but he may have known they targeted the harbourz

Answer 13

I think he did.

In fact, just the DAY BEFORE, a letter was submitted to President Roosevelt, signed by Albert Einstein asking the President to allocate funding to develop the atomic bomb.

Sounds like a strange coincidence, but the letter was signed, and the rest was history.

The Germans forced us to build it.

The Japanese forced us to use it.

And the Russians forced us to keep it.

Answer 14

Yes

Answer 15

Yes the secretary of the Navy Hull sold ace Reporter on 29 November the Japanese would attack pearl on 7 dec1941 he got that from the Message sent By Churchill



27 Nov. - Secretary of War Stimson sent a confused and confusing hostile action possible or DO-DON'T warning. The Navy Court found this message directed attention away from Pearl Harbor, rather than toward it. One purpose of the message was to mislead HI into believing negotiations were continuing. The Army which could not do reconnaissance was ordered to and the Navy which could was ordered not to. The Army was ordered on sabotage alert, which specifically precluded attention to outside threat. Navy attention was misdirected 5000 miles from HI. DC repeated, no less than three times as a direct instruction of the President, "The US desires that Japan commit the first overt act Period." It was unusual that FDR directed this warning, a routine matter, to Hawaii which is proof that he knew other warnings were not sent. A simple question--what Japanese "overt act" was FDR expecting at Pearl Harbor? He ordered sabotage prevented and subs couldn't enter, that leaves air attack. The words "overt act" disclose FDR's intent - not just that Japan be allowed to attack but that they inflict damage on the fleet. This FDR order to allow a Japanese attack was aid to the enemy - explicit treason.

29 Nov.- Hull sat in Layfayette Park across from the White House with ace United Press reporter Joe Leib and showed him a message stating that Pearl Harbor would be attacked on December 7. This could well have been the Nov. 26 message from Churchill. The New York Times in its 12/8/41 PH report on page 13 under the headline "Attack Was Expected" stated the US had known that Pearl Harbor was going to be attacked the week before. Perhaps Leib wasn't the only reporter Hull told.

29 Nov. - The FBI embassy tap made an intercept of an uncoded plain-text Japanese telephone conversation in which an Embassy functionary (Kurusu) asked 'Tell me, what zero hour is. Otherwise, I won't be able to carry on diplomacy.' The voice from Tokyo (K. Yamamoto) said softly, 'Well then, I will tell you. Zero hour is December 8 (Tokyo time, ie, December 7 US time) at Pearl Harbor.' (US Navy translation 29 Nov)

30 Nov. US Time (or 1 Dec. Tokyo time) - The Japanese fleet was radioed this Imperial Naval Order (JN-25): "JAPAN, UNDER THE NECESSITY OF HER SELF-PRESERVATION AND SELF-DEFENSE, HAS REACHED A POSITION TO DECLARE WAR ON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." (Congress Appendix D, p 415). US ally China also recovered it in plain text from a shot-down Japanese Army plane near Canton that evening. This caused an emergency Imperial Conference because they knew the Chinese would give the information to GB and US. In a related J-19 message the next day, the US translated elaborate instructions from Japan dealing in precise detail with the method of internment of American and British nationals in Asia "on the outbreak of war with England and the United States"

1 Dec. - Office of Naval Intelligence, ONI, Twelfth Naval District in San Francisco found the missing Japanese fleet by correlating reports from the four wireless news services and several shipping companies that they were getting strange signals west of Hawaii. The Soviet Union also knew the exact location of the Japanese fleet because they asked the Japanese in advance to let one of their ships pass (Layton p 261). This info was most likely given to them by US because Sorge's spy ring was rolled up November 14. All long-range PBY patrols from the Aleutians were ordered stopped on Dec 6 to prevent contact.





yes the Missing Winds execute message was released in Australia and Read before being reclassified for another 50 years On the Request of British MI5



here is the Basic Gist of historic fact with Names of people who Knew including FDR



Historic Fact and Undisputed on 29 Nov 1941.- Hull told reporters the attack would take place in Pearl Harbour on 7 dec we Know this to be fact so if he was telling reporters on the 29 Nov then FDR let it happen Read On especially what Admiral Stark says to protect his President



27 Nov. - Secretary of War Stimson sent a confused and confusing hostile action possible or DO-DON'T warning. The Navy Court found this message directed attention away from Pearl Harbor, rather than toward it. One purpose of the message was to mislead HI into believing negotiations were continuing. The Army which could not do reconnaissance was ordered to and the Navy which could was ordered not to. The Army was ordered on sabotage alert, which specifically precluded attention to outside threat. Navy attention was misdirected 5000 miles from HI. DC repeated, no less than three times as a direct instruction of the President, "The US desires that Japan commit the first overt act Period." It was unusual that FDR directed this warning, a routine matter, to Hawaii which is proof that he knew other warnings were not sent. A simple question--what Japanese "overt act" was FDR expecting at Pearl Harbor? He ordered sabotage prevented and subs couldn't enter, that leaves air attack. The words "overt act" disclose FDR's intent - not just that Japan be allowed to attack but that they inflict damage on the fleet.



29 Nov.- Hull sat in Layfayette Park across from the White House with ace United Press reporter Joe Leib and showed him a message stating that Pearl Harbor would be attacked on December 7. This could well have been the Nov. 26 message from Churchill. The New York Times in its 12/8/41 PH report on page 13 under the headline "Attack Was Expected" stated the US had known that Pearl Harbor was going to be attacked the week before. Perhaps Leib wasn't the only reporter Hull told.



29 Nov. - The FBI embassy tap made an intercept of an uncoded plain-text Japanese telephone conversation in which an Embassy functionary (Kurusu) asked 'Tell me, what zero hour is. Otherwise, I won't be able to carry on diplomacy.' The voice from Tokyo (K. Yamamoto) said softly, 'Well then, I will tell you. Zero hour is December 8 (Tokyo time, ie, December 7 US time) at Pearl Harbor.' (US Navy translation 29 Nov)

30 Nov. US Time (or 1 Dec. Tokyo time) - The Japanese fleet was radioed this Imperial Naval Order (JN-25): "JAPAN, UNDER THE NECESSITY OF HER SELF-PRESERVATION AND SELF-DEFENSE, HAS REACHED A POSITION TO DECLARE WAR ON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." (Congress Appendix D, p 415). US ally China also recovered it in plain text from a shot-down Japanese Army plane near Canton that evening. This caused an emergency Imperial Conference because they knew the Chinese would give the information to GB and US. In a related J-19 message the next day, the US translated elaborate instructions from Japan dealing in precise detail with the method of internment of American and British nationals in Asia "on the outbreak of war with England and the United States"



Nave and Rusbridger.

"...on 26 November 1941, Churchill's private secretary Anthony Bevir sent by hand to the American Embassy their second message for the day, to be transmitted to Roosevelt accompanied by a note: "I enclose a telegram from the Former Naval Person to the President for dispatch as soon as possible. I am so sorry to trouble you at this hour."

Of all Churchill's voluminous correspondence with Roosevelt during World War II, this is the one message that cannot be read, since the file containing it is withheld from the Public record office in London for the next seventy years. According to Britain's Foreign Secretary, to release it would harm national security."



U.S.Army Inquiry proceedings into Pearl Harbor, July - October 1944........

"On 26 November there was received specific evidence of the Japanese intention to wage offensive war against Great Britain and the United States"

But no details of what this "specific evidence" consisted of were placed before the inquiry.

Page 141, paragraph7,.............and.............… 142 paragraph1.

U.S.Navy Inquiry into Pearl Harbor, July to October, 1944.

Admiral Kimmel: "Do you recall whether on or about 26 November you received information from the office of naval intelligence that gave specific evidence of Japan's intention to wage offensive war against Britain and America?"



Admiral Stark refused to answer saying:" It would involve disclosure of information detrimental to the public interest."



all the above if from Official US Military archives made avaliable under Freedom of Information

Answer 16

President Roosevelt wanted to help the British in their fight against Nazi Germany, but he was hampered by isolationists in Congress. One way that he got around the isolationist sentiment was by the Lend-Lease Act, passed in March of 1941.



While Roosevelt was pro-British and anti-Nazi, he was indifferent to Japan, at least initially. He did become increasingly alarmed as Japanese military conquests in Asia threatened western colonial and neo-colonial interests.



Ironically, Roosevelt may have unwittingly precipitated the attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1940, in response to Japanese militarism, he prohibited the export of oil products and iron & steel scrap metal to Japan. In July of 1941, he froze all Japanese assets in the U.S. However, the general feeling among Americans (fueled by feelings of racial superiority), was that Japan "wouldn't dare" to attack the United States.



However, this is NOT to say that Roosevelt knew about the Pearl Harbor attack in advance. He was just as surprised and shocked as anyone. After the United States Congress declared war on Japan on Dec. 8, 1941, Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy declared war on the United States on Dec. 11, 1941.

Answer 17

No. We suspected something was up, but we didn't guess that Pearl Harbor was the target.

Answer 18

There is ZERO proof he knew in advance.

Answer 19

-No. Because He was NOT a Person to just Sit By -& LET something like That "Happen." :o

Answer 20

No, there is not a "theory" about that. There is a wacko psychotic hallucination about that. A "theory" is an explanation that matches the facts. This idiotic idea matches no facts.

Answer 21

No

Answer 22

Evidence? Only circumstantial. Nothing concrete.

Answer 23

yea he actually did he also was aware of the hallocoust and the genocide in Russia but what did the crippled idiot do nothing he waited for us to be bombed and still sent a minimal amount of troops to Germany and Italy but focused on japan only which we were bombed because he didn't do anything in advance but he was also ware of the genocides going on

Answer 24

The only thing weird about the P.H. Bombing is that all the aircraft carriers were out to sea. Just the obsolete war ships were in port. Why were the aircraft carriers out to sea without escort? Either way those Japs started something and we finished it.



" I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve ..............who said that.



Isoroku Yamamoto japanese admiral

Answer 25

yes silly. Well in advance. He wanted the Japanese to attack Americans. He blockaded ships taking oil to Japan to encourage their retaliation.

Answer 26

Nah

Answer 27

Yes.

Answer 28

No that is a slanderous and outrageous charge. Rooseveltbloved the Navy.

Answer 29

Extremely likely - but just as with Stalin, to be forewarned is not to be forearmed, if the advice is not listened to.

Answer 30

Do you think FDR was out of the loop? Man, you don't know nuttin about FDR.

Answer 31

-no... 'cause he was not a person to just sit by -& let something like that "happen..." :o

Answer 32

-no... 'cause he was not a person to just sit by -& let something like that "happen..." :o

Answer 33

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcUz-YGYzT0

Answer 34

NO HE DID NOT END OF STORY

Answer 35

No

Answer 36

ye

Answer 37

no he did not

Answer 38

Know ?

"No"

Answer 39

.