Re: Singapore - what happened

"a425couple" <a425couple@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote

The UK, or Commonwealth, had plenty of warning
that war in the Pacific with Japan was likely over
the years.

Japan was an increasing threat, certainly. But there was no certainty of
war: sober analysis in the West judged that Japan must realise that while it
might make some short-term gains, it could not hope to win a long war
against Britain and the US. But Japan acted irrationally.

They had clear adequate warning days
before 7 December (Pearl Harbor morning time)
/ 8 December (Malaya/Singapore morning time).

Yes, but warning of war does not cause resources to appear where they are
needed. The long and deliberate neglect of the area came home to roost.

The C. in C Brooke-Popham informed London,
and asked if he should put operation "Matador"
(preempt move to block landing beaches in Thailand)
into effect. He was told "that he could act at his discretion"
in other words - he could be personably responsible
for declaring war with Japan.

The CoS in London were not certain that war had started, and they did not
feel able to authorise the pre-emptive invasion of a neutral on the basis of
the information they had. However, they recognised that war was nevertheless
very likely at any moment and the commander on the spot might gain such
information at any time (eg intelligence about a landing fleet) and gave him
the discretion to act if so.

That's not that same as saying that they gave Popham authority to declare
war on Japan: they didn't.

(snip repetition)

.

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