These invaluable records of 62 conferences held in Tokyo between March and December of 1941 provide direct access to the thinking and planning of Japan's highest leaders as they prepared for war. It is as if one were looking over the shoulders of the key decision makers as they argued and deliberated, weighed the probable consequences of their actions, reached conclusions, and made decisions that were to change the course of world history.
The documents, which are translated here for the first time, are of two kinds: records of 57 Liaison Conferences, which were held every few days between the representatives of the Cabinet and the Army and Navy to decide on questions of foreign policy; and records of five Imperial Conferences, where the Emperor ratified key decisions of the Liaison Conferences.
As the editor points out, among the important lessons that can be drawn from these records is the serious doubt they cast on the validity of the theory of deterrence, indicating as they do. that there are definite limits to the effectiveness of threats used by one nation to deter another nation from pursuing a certain course of action.
