The first thing to consider is how and where we might
become involved.
The immediate war alternatives seem to be:
(a) War with Japan in which we have no allies. This
might be precipitated by Japanese armed opposition should we
strongly reinforce our Asiatic Fleet or the Philippines
Garrison, should we start fortifying Guam, or should we impose
additional important economic sanctions; or it might be pre-
cipitated by ourselves in case of overt Japanese action against
us, or by further extension of Japanese hegemony.
(b) War with Japan in which we have the British Empire, or
the British Empire and Netherlands East Indies, as allies.
This might be precipitated by one of the causes mentioned in (a),
by our movement of a naval reinforcement to Singapore, or by
Japanese attack on British or Netherlands territory.
(c) War with Japan in which she is aided by Germany and
Italy, and in which we are or are not aided by allies. To the
causes of such a war, previously listed, might be added
augmented American material assistance to Great Britain, our
active military intervention in Britain's favor, or our active
resistance to German extension of military activities to the
Western Hemisphere.
(d) War with Germany and Italy in which Japan would not
be initially involved, and in which we would be allied with the
British. Such a war would be initiated by American decision to
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