Timeline Part Two (No FDR)

1944 - Tensions rise in the Pacific. On orders from President Dewey, secret supply runs are being made to the Russians, via the Siberian city of Magadan, to the Chinese (via the British in India, across the Himalayas), and to the British holdings in the Pacific as well as the Australians and New Zealanders. Closely guarded as a secret, it is eventually discovered first by the Japanese, who then (attempting to re-kindle American isolationism) release the information to the world and American press.

The strategy backfires and American support for the supply runs is overwhelming. Though a strict violation of the Neutrality Act, Congress immediately grants a "waiver" to the President and pushs for more aid to China, Russia, and the British Allies. Japan is outraged. On March 20th, they declare unrestricted submarine warfare for an area basically encompassing the Pacific west of Guam, leaving only a straight route from Hawaii to the Philippines open to US sea traffic.

Dewey ignores the threat, feeling that the Japanese are too scared of a full-out war with America to sink US civilian ships.

On March 23rd, the S.S. Killian is bringing rifles and ammunition from Honolulu to Auckland, New Zealand. It is sunk without warning by the Japanese submarine I-32. Survivors make it to Palawan and informed Washington. Dewey warned the Japanese that if they sank one more American ship, war would be declared.

Meanwhile in Tokyo, the Imperial Navy had already drawn up plans for a surprise attack on the US Naval forces at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This plan initiated by Admiral Yamamoto and devised by Captain Genda was over six months old, and had been authorized soon after the "secret" American supply runs had been detected.

It called for the 1st, 2nd, and 5th Carrier Divisions in a combined fleet to attack Pearl Harbor and sink both battleships and aircraft carriers. It was executed perfectly. On March 26, 1944, the Japanese carrier battle group, already assembled in Hitokappu Wan in the Kurile Islands, sortied for Hawaii, under strict radio silence.

On the morning of April 7th, they launched their planes. Just four minutes later, the Japanese Ambassador, Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura, and special representative Saburo Kurusu infomred Secretary of State Wendell Wilkie that Japan had declared war on the United States. Wilkie was stunned for a few moments, then rushed to the phone to call the White House. He got through to President Dewey just as radar installations at Opana Point detected a massive flight of unknown aircraft.

The harbor anti-aircraft was immediately alerted and

On April 8th, President Dewey addressed Congress and called for a declaration of war against Japan. There was no objection, save one Congressman, and the declaration passed nearly unanimously.

Hitler honored the Tri-Partite Pact and declared war on the United States AND re-declared war on Great Britain. Troops were re-shifted back to France and Norway and the Luftwaffe once again began bombardment of British targets (actually 2 hours before Hitler's announcement, the Port of Dover was attacked by a squadron of Junkers bombers with FW-190 escorts. The RAF downed six bombers out of nineteen, but the port was moderately damaged along with six Royal Naval destroyers.)