A Shift in Priorities
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[FONT="]Adultery they look upon as poetically wrong but practically proper... Kanakas will have horses and saddles and the women will fornicate – two strong characteristics of this people.[/FONT]
[FONT="](Mark Twain on Hawaiians) [/FONT]
[FONT="]With chagrin, Admiral David Worth Bagley was staring into the mulish faces of the insurgents’ delegation. Mad dogs and Englishmen! – No, an English women... Framed by Geeks, Gooks and the ordinary other Nip... Well, at least no frigging Nigger amongst them. – The Commonwealth of Hawaii, represented by the Hawaiian National Congress, had declared its independence on January 20th, 1936, after rising in revolt four days earlier...[/FONT]
[FONT="]They said they respected the ‘US Enclave’ – but Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Airfield in central Oahu and all outlaying installations had been overrun. Only Pearl Harbor Naval Base and the adjacent Hickam Field were still in US hands. – The Hawaiian Division had ‘relocated’ to Pearl Harbor said the reports, but in Bagley’s perception this smelled like panic-stricken flight. The division’s general officer in command was missing together with a major portion of his staff. One of the regimental commanders had taken over for the time being.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The insurgents had captured a lot of military hardware at Schofield Barracks and the four air stations now in their possession, certainly airplanes enough to pose a threat to Bagley’s fleet. However, they said they didn’t want to resort to violence; they would only defend themselves in case they were attacked. – This was completely unacceptable, of course. His instructions were unambiguous. US sovereignty over the Hawaiian Islands had to be restored, without any exemptions.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Yet, Bagley was loath to use force. It would be relatively easy: he had carrier-borne aircraft in sufficient number for an overwhelming disarming strike; his vessels could easily isolate the islands; and the Hawaiian Division could retake them one after the other. – But this would mean fighting against bloody civilians, women, kids and babies... Even when most of them were hideous non-whites.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Well, Lady and Gentlemen, here is my proposal how things should proceed... [/FONT]
[FONT="](Mark Twain on Hawaiians) [/FONT]
[FONT="]With chagrin, Admiral David Worth Bagley was staring into the mulish faces of the insurgents’ delegation. Mad dogs and Englishmen! – No, an English women... Framed by Geeks, Gooks and the ordinary other Nip... Well, at least no frigging Nigger amongst them. – The Commonwealth of Hawaii, represented by the Hawaiian National Congress, had declared its independence on January 20th, 1936, after rising in revolt four days earlier...[/FONT]
[FONT="]They said they respected the ‘US Enclave’ – but Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Airfield in central Oahu and all outlaying installations had been overrun. Only Pearl Harbor Naval Base and the adjacent Hickam Field were still in US hands. – The Hawaiian Division had ‘relocated’ to Pearl Harbor said the reports, but in Bagley’s perception this smelled like panic-stricken flight. The division’s general officer in command was missing together with a major portion of his staff. One of the regimental commanders had taken over for the time being.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The insurgents had captured a lot of military hardware at Schofield Barracks and the four air stations now in their possession, certainly airplanes enough to pose a threat to Bagley’s fleet. However, they said they didn’t want to resort to violence; they would only defend themselves in case they were attacked. – This was completely unacceptable, of course. His instructions were unambiguous. US sovereignty over the Hawaiian Islands had to be restored, without any exemptions.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Yet, Bagley was loath to use force. It would be relatively easy: he had carrier-borne aircraft in sufficient number for an overwhelming disarming strike; his vessels could easily isolate the islands; and the Hawaiian Division could retake them one after the other. – But this would mean fighting against bloody civilians, women, kids and babies... Even when most of them were hideous non-whites.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Well, Lady and Gentlemen, here is my proposal how things should proceed... [/FONT]
Well, not everybody on Hawaii can be member of the delegation on board USS Utah.
Next thing we'll know, we'll have Middle Africans operating off of Pearl Harbor... You know its gonna happen...
Nah, more ironic would be having the Japanese set up a base at Pearl Harbour, seeing as they have the most powerful military in the Pacfic, the Hawaiians would probably want someone to guantee their saftey from a rensurgent America and since the Japanese don't seem to be Empire building in the way of conquest.
In the future:
Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy -- the Kingdom of Hawii and The Empire of Japan was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the United States of America.
What seems to be happening in the Pacific is that the Japanese are achieving the goals of WW2 OTL without ever firing a shot. Something that must have the Japanese militarists quietly fuming.
As for what's happening in Hawaii using force of violence against ostensibly nonviolent movements tends to rebound on the attacker so long as cameras are rolling and journalists are getting copy out. Bagley might be victorious yet destroy his career at the same time.
As for what's happening in Hawaii using force of violence against ostensibly nonviolent movements tends to rebound on the attacker so long as cameras are rolling and journalists are getting copy out. Bagley might be victorious yet destroy his career at the same time.
Indeed, it seems as if things really are going well for Japan. However, Korea is the one big skeleton in the closet, a ticking time bomb where if something goes wrong than everything they'd acheived during the past decade or so when it comes to foreign policy, public good will, etc. could go up in smoke. Its been shown that even a liberal Japanese government has proven willing to pursue the most draconian colonial policy when it comes to Korea; if they let up even a little bit, the Koreans will immediately rebel, the Chinese/Russians will start snooping around, and that's an opening where the militarists could regain their former influence.
Rasts last post also seems to indicate that while Bagley realizes that the US forces he has at his disposal are more than capable of putting down the Hawaiian independence movement, and that personally Bagley has little respect for the mixed race citizenry of Hawaii, the last thing the US needs is yet another drawn out island guerilla campaign like the Phillippines and further damage the US public image. Besides, this time Bagley has considerable leeway to make the decision for himself since his masters are more concered with the various urban rebellions, the Grunts, etc. than to deal with a sideshow like Hawaii.
Didn't the last post about that Japanese guy in the Philippines point out to a new policy in Korea from exactly these reasons? For years now the Japanese know that they have Korea as long as China allows it. That should change things (although it won't butterfly away the previous policy or those who enacted it and their line of thinking).
Bagley can indeed do whatever he wants. But can he get supplies for his actions? Occupying Hawaii needs supplies, and he just ended the blockade of the Philippines since he lacked those.
What's even more of a problem: you can bet that among the first dead civilians there'll be plenty of Japanese and Chinese. Not to mention that whoever has to fight the US ITTL gets Mittelafrikan help.
[FONT="]There are many humorous things in the world; among them, the white man’s notion that he is less savage than the other savages.[/FONT]
[FONT="](Mark Twain)[/FONT]
[FONT="]Smoking a pipe, Admiral David W. Bagley was gazing after the launch carrying the Hawaiian delegation back ashore. This had been dogged negotiations. These people were afraid, but they refused to comply. One had to discuss Bagley’s demands in Congress; one would be back to-morrow... Goodness, why was he always tasked to work miracles? – But on the other hand, why complain? It was an interesting life, wasn’t it? Far better than shoving papers and wrecking office chairs in Washington...[/FONT]
[FONT="]Okay, he had all the big guns in this case; the insurgents eventually would have to cave in. He could wait. – The supplies – well, even the amenities – of Pearl Harbor were available to his fleet without constraints. The Hawaiians had made a big mistake by leaving the ‘US Enclave’ untouched. Oh dear, bloody amateurs, naïve surfriders and green students... How dewy-eyed could one get? [/FONT]
[FONT="]“Sir! Sir!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Bagley looked up: USS Utah’s Second Officer was speeding towards him. He looked very excited.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“What’s up, Eddy?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Midway reports Japanese fleet sailing direction Hawaii, Sir! – Battleships! Carriers! The full monty!” [/FONT]
[FONT="]A surveillance aircraft from Midway had spotted them. There was a fast task force of battle cruisers and escort carriers running ahead, followed by the host of battleships and large aircraft carriers, which were herding a huge convoy of transport vessels. – What in brazen hell was this? An invasion fleet? – Cursing inwardly, Bagley rushed down to the operations centre.[/FONT]
[FONT="]More recce flights were sent out in a flurry. Yes, the initial observations were affirmed. Six battle cruisers and four escort carriers – plus several groups of cruisers and destroyers – in the vanguard. Ten battleships and six large carriers in the main group, again screened by several groups of cruisers and destroyers, chaperoning more than twenty-five transport vessels – and four hospital ships...[/FONT]
[FONT="]Bagley cursed again, this time aloud. Now, somebody else had the biggest guns... This force was superior to his own fleet, not only in capital ships, but especially pressing in light craft, where the Philippine adventure had worn out too many US destroyers and cruisers. – Had these naïve surfriders and students managed invoking the Japs? – There were far more Japanese living on Hawaii than US Americans. But would that surfer lady, who seemed to be their spokeswoman, really want to swap US rule for that of the Japanese Empire?[/FONT]
[FONT="]While frantic radio messages were being sent back and forth between USS Utah and Pacific Command in San Diego, the Japanese fleet kept approaching. – Then, the Nips were transmitting a message en clair:[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Good day, Admiral Bagley, this is Admiral Hyakutake Gengō of the Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun. My government has tasked me to bring humanitarian relief to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Hawaii. My fleet carries food supplies, medicines, medical equipment, construction machinery – and I have four fully equipped hospital ships able of dealing with every curative emergency. I have given order to bring ashore the supplies at Honolulu. You are kindly requested not to obstruct this humanitarian relief operation.”[/FONT]
[FONT="](Mark Twain)[/FONT]
[FONT="]Smoking a pipe, Admiral David W. Bagley was gazing after the launch carrying the Hawaiian delegation back ashore. This had been dogged negotiations. These people were afraid, but they refused to comply. One had to discuss Bagley’s demands in Congress; one would be back to-morrow... Goodness, why was he always tasked to work miracles? – But on the other hand, why complain? It was an interesting life, wasn’t it? Far better than shoving papers and wrecking office chairs in Washington...[/FONT]
[FONT="]Okay, he had all the big guns in this case; the insurgents eventually would have to cave in. He could wait. – The supplies – well, even the amenities – of Pearl Harbor were available to his fleet without constraints. The Hawaiians had made a big mistake by leaving the ‘US Enclave’ untouched. Oh dear, bloody amateurs, naïve surfriders and green students... How dewy-eyed could one get? [/FONT]
[FONT="]“Sir! Sir!”[/FONT]
[FONT="]Bagley looked up: USS Utah’s Second Officer was speeding towards him. He looked very excited.[/FONT]
[FONT="]“What’s up, Eddy?”[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Midway reports Japanese fleet sailing direction Hawaii, Sir! – Battleships! Carriers! The full monty!” [/FONT]
[FONT="]A surveillance aircraft from Midway had spotted them. There was a fast task force of battle cruisers and escort carriers running ahead, followed by the host of battleships and large aircraft carriers, which were herding a huge convoy of transport vessels. – What in brazen hell was this? An invasion fleet? – Cursing inwardly, Bagley rushed down to the operations centre.[/FONT]
[FONT="]More recce flights were sent out in a flurry. Yes, the initial observations were affirmed. Six battle cruisers and four escort carriers – plus several groups of cruisers and destroyers – in the vanguard. Ten battleships and six large carriers in the main group, again screened by several groups of cruisers and destroyers, chaperoning more than twenty-five transport vessels – and four hospital ships...[/FONT]
[FONT="]Bagley cursed again, this time aloud. Now, somebody else had the biggest guns... This force was superior to his own fleet, not only in capital ships, but especially pressing in light craft, where the Philippine adventure had worn out too many US destroyers and cruisers. – Had these naïve surfriders and students managed invoking the Japs? – There were far more Japanese living on Hawaii than US Americans. But would that surfer lady, who seemed to be their spokeswoman, really want to swap US rule for that of the Japanese Empire?[/FONT]
[FONT="]While frantic radio messages were being sent back and forth between USS Utah and Pacific Command in San Diego, the Japanese fleet kept approaching. – Then, the Nips were transmitting a message en clair:[/FONT]
[FONT="]“Good day, Admiral Bagley, this is Admiral Hyakutake Gengō of the Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun. My government has tasked me to bring humanitarian relief to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Hawaii. My fleet carries food supplies, medicines, medical equipment, construction machinery – and I have four fully equipped hospital ships able of dealing with every curative emergency. I have given order to bring ashore the supplies at Honolulu. You are kindly requested not to obstruct this humanitarian relief operation.”[/FONT]
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You know how I said around this time last year that during 1934 ITTL that the Hawaiians declaring independence and on top of that would be getting Japanese help was pretty much ASB? Well, here we are. I can understand losing the Phillippines, but losing Hawaii is just embarassing.... Now, I wouldn't be surprised if by this time in 1938 Omar Bradley has declared seccession for the West Coast of the US and then asked the Middle Africans/Japs/Mexicans/etc and anoited himself president.
Exactly. Personally, I think it's a very smart move on the Japanese' part, as it gains the Japanese some much needed prestige in the world, and helps counteract the Middle Africans in terms of power projection and influence. The Japanese have to know that the Middle Africans are going to come to blows with somebody eventually, why not the combined US and Japanese navies?
amazing move by Japan they further there influence across the Pacific weaken the Americans, really help improve there image globally giving so much aid to a poor nation and protecting it from US attacks, if the US can not retake Hawaii which it seems they cannot, this may cause some other areas to seek independence, I could even see Texas being the first region to do, seeing they are strong enough themselves and want away from he chaos of the US
I like this stragetic move, on one hand the Japanese have now established themselves as 'liberators of the Pacfic', bring supplies (and much more likely arms) to the Hawaiians, a propaganda victory for Japan.
The other factor is that it shows how weak the US navy is, with Bagley forced to sit by and watch a foriegn fleet enter what America considers it's waters and land aid to 'rebel' forces. The good admiral might want to turn round back to Austraila as I get the feeling he'd be arrested the moment he steps ashore.
The West Coast is going to be paniking, along with any other place by the shore, as the average America wonders if Japan has gotten involved in the civil war, who else might?
The other factor is that it shows how weak the US navy is, with Bagley forced to sit by and watch a foriegn fleet enter what America considers it's waters and land aid to 'rebel' forces. The good admiral might want to turn round back to Austraila as I get the feeling he'd be arrested the moment he steps ashore.
The West Coast is going to be paniking, along with any other place by the shore, as the average America wonders if Japan has gotten involved in the civil war, who else might?
I'm just saying that unlike the Phillippines where hatred of the US was pretty much universal, in Hawaii there would have been a significant number of people who would have remained loyal to the United States. Most of these would have probably been white admittedly, as they stand the most to lose in terms of finances, their lives, etc, but nonetheless the way you depict it once the Hawaiians decided to declare their own independence they were simply shunted aside without a fuss. With significant naval bases within reach of these loyalists, they would have definitely fought first before throwing in the towel. There would also be a number of individuals of Asian ethnicity that would also side with the loyalists in the hope that fighting against the rebels would grant them better rights as US Citizens.
Furthermore, you simplify things by mentioning that just because Hawaii has a significant Japanese population, that these people would welcome Japanese intervention with open arms. Hawaii is a hodgepodge of ethnicities, which include Chinese and Koreans, neither of which has much reason to like Japan, especially the Koreans. Furthermore, we know just how racist that the Americans are, but so are the Japanese, especially toward Koreans. That is balanced by the admission that the 5 Corporations basically ran Hawaii like a plantation, but nonetheless Expat, I get the impression that you papered over the immense racial challenges that the Hawaiian Independance movement would have had to overcome to acheieve the sort of unity necessary to be recognized as an independent state.
Basically, I'm not sure that the rebel leaders speak for all Hawaiians on the entire chain, just like the Founding Fathers of the United States didn't necessarily speak for all American colonials in the 13 colonies, for there were a significant number of loyalists who fought to remain with the Empire as hard as those who sought to free themselves from it.
Another thing you underestimate is that the Hawaiian Rebels would have problems coordinating with one another given that Hawaii is an island chain. While Japan can bring a fleet to Hawaii, the only port, Pearl Harbor, is still in US hands, and once Japan leaves the US can move back in and support the loyalists to take back Hawaii.
Furthermore, Japan would not be able to openly aid the rebels before Hawaii is given international recognition as a sovereign state, but given that the USA is on the world's shit list that shouldn't be too much of a problem. I also argue whether Japan can actually carry out such a big mission and put such a show of force in Hawaii. I know about Pearl Harbor OTL, but until a few months ago there was seemingly no inclination that Hawaii was about to rebel, and also given the fact that Japan was investing much of its resources into the Phillippines, its difficult to imagine that it took Japan a mere few months to plan such a mammoth 'relief' operation from scratch. The logistics of this are also huge, since they have no bases in which to station their fleet, as they can't merely stay around the islands forever and sooner or later would hae to refuel, and because last time I checked, Midway and Wake islands are still US territories among others, as is Pearl Harbor and the closest base is the Phillippines. Once the fleet inevitably has to turn back, the US can issue reprisals against the Hawaiian rebels, and then the Japanese will decide whether its worth going to war with the US over Hawaii, and when Japan comes back they'd have to attack the US. Or there's the possibility that a Middle African sub will brave the journey to Hawaii and attack either a US or Japanese vessel in hopes of starting a war between the US and Japan.
As for Japan, being labeled the 'liberators of the Pacfic', as I mentioned earlier sooner or later they're going to have confront the reality of the contradiction that is Korea, which again is still ruled in the most draconian style. You can mention, oh Japan will just liberalize its rule on Korea, but that can't be done easily. There is a different dynamic when it comes to Korea, a level of disdain that exists in the minds of Japanese at large that merely removing the militarists from power won't remove. The militarists would reason that the moment the civilian government gives an inch on Korea, China/Russia would immediately step in and spark a rebellion, and frankly its a reasonable argument.
Lastly, I understand full well that many people on this timeline don't like what I have to say, because it seems like I'm supporting racists and bigots, and that arguing the case for the US is not a popular stance to take. However, my recent concern is that because many of the readers are more than happy to see the United States go down the drain, the writers of the TL would be influenced by their sentiments and compromise the integrity of the storyline at large to meet their expectations. For instance, the US has made a whole host of negative and boneheaded actions, which taken by themselves can seem plausible, but when put all together one after another and looked at as a whole its not as much.
Then again, Nazi Germany existed in OTL, but if I were in an alternate TL in which Germany lost the Great War and wrote a timeline where Germany proceeded to go Nazi, you'd all say ASB or at least call my storyline utterly implausible. Again, what's happening to the US isn't ASB but probably the worst case scenario, a low probability event where everything has to break exactly wrong for it to take place.
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What happened to Herbert Hoover ITTL? I'm surprised he hasn't been mentioned. The "Great Humanitarian" who saved millions in starving Europe, and the political progressive who was courted by both the Democratic and Republican Parties for the Presidency; what became of him?
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