Misunderstanding and mistranslation in the origins of the Pacific War of 1941-1945 : the importance of 'Magic'
The thesis is concerned with a specific example of misunderstanding as a factor in international crisis leading to war. The example is the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941 and the thesis gives special importance to the mistranslation and misinterpretation of ~Magic~ (Magic, as the thesis explains, was the name given to the American decoding of the secret Japanese codes). The argument is that misunderstanding was a cumulative factor in relations between the United States and Japan, and that in the final negotiations mistranslation of Magic was a significant factor in the failure to reach an agreement. The thesis argues that as late as the last week in November 1941 the attack on Pearl Harbor could have been averted. The thesis opens with an introduction referring to the literature on the causes of war and misunderstanding in international politics. A brief comparison is made with crises which did not lead to war, such as the Cuban missile crisis. Part I is entitled ~The Historical Legacy~ and surveys briefly the period from the Spanish-American war to 1940. It does not claim to be a comprehensive account of U.S.-Japan relations. It is designed to show how successive crises increased misunderstanding.
Komatsu, Keiichiro
World War II
Misunderstanding and mistranslation in the origins of the Pacific War of 1941-1945 : the importance of 'Magic'. The thesis is concerned with a specific example of misunderstanding as a factor in international crisis leading to war. The example is the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941 and the thesis gives special importance to the mistranslation and misinterpretation of ~Magic~ (Magic, as the thesis explains, was the name given to the American decoding of the secret Japanese codes). The argument is that misunderstanding was a cumulative factor in relations between the United States and Japan, and that in the final negotiations mistranslation of Magic was a significant factor in the failure to reach an agreement. The thesis argues that as late as the last week in November 1941 the attack on Pearl Harbor could have been averted. The thesis opens with an introduction referring to the literature on the causes of war and misunderstanding in international politics. A brief comparison is made with crises which did not lead to war, such as the Cuban missile crisis. Part I is entitled ~The Historical Legacy~ and surveys briefly the period from the Spanish-American war to 1940. It does not claim to be a comprehensive account of U.S.-Japan relations. It is designed to show how successive crises increased misunderstanding.
misunderstanding origin war importance magic concern specific example misunderstand factor international crisis lead war example outbreak war give special importance misinterpretation magic magic explain name give american decode secret japanese code argument misunderstand cumulative factor relation united_states japan final negotiation magic significant_factor failure reach agreement argues attack could open introduction refer literature cause war misunderstand international_politics brief comparison_make crisis lead war cuban crisis part entitle the historical legacy survey briefly period spanish american war claim comprehensive_account japan relation design show successive crisis increase misunderstand