The decision to attack Pearl Harbor was reached after five months of deliberations that included numerous official conferences. It was a gradual process in which more sympathetic, albeit firm, US engagement might have helped sway Japan in a different direction.
袭击珍珠港的决定是在经过五个月的审议后做出的，决策过程中举行了难以计数的会议。这是一个渐进的过程。在这一过程中，如果美国坚定而又富有同情地与日本接触，那么或许会把日本引向另一个方向。实际上，日本政府内部观点充满分歧，最终能够团结一致实在令人惊讶。