"Senator Sinclair, while I can understand such naïvete, I believe that embargoing Japan will force them into a situation where war is inevitable. We are their major source of oil and without us their navy and air force cannot function for a prolonged period. An invasion of the Dutch East Indies will be almost inevitable and it is all too likely they will attack us too! If you can present me enough evidence that there are alternative trading partner's who can replace Japan's wealth and ensure that our shores are safe from Japanese invasion, then I may consider changing my stance on this bill."
- Senator Sarah O'Hanahan, D-OR
Senator O'Hanahan,
Actually, crude oil is the one thing Japan possesses in abundance presently; at last count, they were generating a daily national surplus of roughly 32,000 gallons, so they will be able to retain their dignity as a nation for quite some time. What this bill
will do is force Japan to scale down its military production and return its attention to domestic affairs - or, failing that, it will empower Japan's democratic opposition and pave the way for a constitutional restoration.
Finding trade partners to replace Japan would not be terribly complex: Franco's Spain is willing to take Japan's place in producing military supplies, while the United Kingdom - our historical ally - has several major resource shortfalls that need filling (as soon as they overcome their unwillingness to ask "those bloody Yanks" for assistance). I freely admit that we cannot completely replace Japanese trade in the short term, but we can produce the remainder of these supplies domestically, or find other potential suppliers.
As for "forcing" Japan into war - given that we are importing massive quantities of
military supplies from Japan, that Japan has signed Hitler's Anti-Comintern Pact, and that and that Japan is presently engaged in a bloody stalemate in China, it appears to me that Japan intends war against anyone with resources to spare. The question, then, is this: will we fuel their expansionist hunger? And will we be surprised if that ravenous appetite one day turns on us as well?
I vehemently oppose the E-E Bill, so I will obviously vote Nay. I will never ruin American markets by hampering free trade, especially in such a situation as we have right now. Besides, both sides appear to be at a stalemate, so neither side currently poses any threat to the US at the time.
- Senator Elexis Sinclaire
That's a pity, Senator. I would like to point out that the overwhelming majority of the goods we import are military supplies, which provide precisely zero benefit to either domestic companies or American workers. Not to mention that the greatest beneficiary of this conflict between China and Japan will be the Soviet Union: Stalin must be chortling with glee at how two of the greatest threats to Communist domination of Asia have fallen into war with one another. How free will the markets be when the hammer and sickle fly over Shanghai?
As far as the "stalemate" goes, I agree with you that neither side is
currently a threat to the United States. This bill is intended to ensure that neither the Republic of China nor the Empire of Japan has the capability to attack us - neither now nor ever.
Still, I commend you for your decisiveness, if not for your position on this issue.
Senator McCarthy,
How much leeway would I have in conducting operations in Japan, should this bill succeed? Some of my agents inform me of the possibility of a coup attempt; would that be acceptable?
Head of Intelligence Vincent Astor
((Trying to find out, for gameplay purposes, what your bill means
))
Director Astor,
I admire your agents' optimism, but I cannot entirely say that I share it. I would recommend merely supporting and empowering the domestic opposition for the time being, and only initiating an outright coup if conditions significantly favor your success. That said, such a decision remains firmly in your hands, and I trust that you and President Roosevelt will exercise your best judgment regarding how and when to strike.
Of course, if you plan to launch a coup attempt
immediately, then I would you to advise the Minister of Commerce to delay that embargo until after the coup is resolved. There's no sense in embargoing a new (and friendly) democratic government, after all!
Also, I still recommend that we pursue an
Isolationist course of action. My goal with this bill is to
prevent war, not to start it, and that attitude should be reflected in our overall foreign policy.
((I was actually thinking of just using the Support Our Party/Disrupt National Unity missions and only using a coup when we're on the verge of invading the Home Islands - I figured starting a coup outright would be too gamey. That said, if you're alright with it, feel free, though it will render most of Saithis' preparations moot.))
