For all the "Hitler doesn't declare war on the U.S." threads & the "Japan invades Hawaii" threads...
What happens if U.S. diplmomacy before Pearl Harbor was just a little smarter? Suppose they'd persuaded Japan not to sign the Axis pact? Suppose the hardline nitwits at State had not put a total embargo on oil, contrary to FDR's wishes? Suppose they'd put a little more pressure on Japan & China both to cut a deal? Chiang was willing, if he could concentrate on destroying the Communists...
So how does it happen? Who has to be moved off his OTL position? Or fired? Or pushed under a bus?
Does it avoid the Pacific War entirely? (More than possible, IMO.) Does it shorten the European war? What else happens?
No Korean War & no Vietnam War, for a start...
Any other ideas?
What happens if U.S. diplmomacy before Pearl Harbor was just a little smarter? Suppose they'd persuaded Japan not to sign the Axis pact? Suppose the hardline nitwits at State had not put a total embargo on oil, contrary to FDR's wishes? Suppose they'd put a little more pressure on Japan & China both to cut a deal? Chiang was willing, if he could concentrate on destroying the Communists...
So how does it happen? Who has to be moved off his OTL position? Or fired? Or pushed under a bus?
Does it avoid the Pacific War entirely? (More than possible, IMO.) Does it shorten the European war? What else happens?
No Korean War & no Vietnam War, for a start...