What was the progress of negotiations between the US and Japan during World War 2 and what were each country's goals?

Answer 1

The 'negotiations' between the USA and Japan during WWII were negligible. Before the war it was a different story. Japan had invaded China several years earlier and was heavily engaged in a brutal war there. The USA objected to Japan's aggression and sent aid and comfort to the Chinese. The Soviets also supported their own faction in China, Communist of course, led my Mao. Japan, seeing China as within their sphere of influence, objected mightily to these intrusions, to no avail. Gradually these two sides positions became hardened until summer of 1941. At this time the USA persuaded the British and Dutch governments to go along with them and freeze all Japanese assets within their respective colonies and countries. By freezing a nations assets within your borders you are effectively declaring war since you have basically stolen those assets. In Japans case it was even more critical since their only ( I mean only ) supplies of petroleum were from sources controled by these three nations. Without petroleum, Japan, like the USA, would be ruined financially and militarily. The Japanese response was to pretend to negotiate but immediately prepare for war. Ultimately they attacked Pearl Harbor in order to cripple the USA Pacific fleet. Meanwhile, with only a handful of divisions, they conquered most of East Asia and the Pacific islands nearby. Given time they could have incorporated these areas into a vast trading bloc that would have given them all the resources they needed to support their economy. After Pearl, negotiations ceased, until the end of the war. There were a few peace feelers by the Japanese starting in late 1944 but these were generally misinterpreted by the USA due to language and cultural barriers. Additionally the peace movement in Japan was still weak and remained so until summer 1945 when the combination of atomic bombs and Soviet involvement forced the Japanese to give in to the USA on all matters save protection of their emperor. In summary, negotiations were a footnote to the Japanese:USA situation in WWII. Politics played a small part here, as it was mainly a military controlled situation on both sides.