Claim:The memo is valid and real but the directions were not followed exactly.
Evidence: We have come to the understanding that the document is directed to the United States. The memo is directions or suggestions for the U.S. that are wartime strategies and action plans that would push them into World War II. The U.S. followed almost all of the directions given which provoked Japan, especially by having military bases in the Pacific which Japan wanted complete control of. Although the United States claimed they wanted to remain neutral their directions pushed them into the war and following the memo definitely diminished their neutral stance. The U.S. also helped China during the war this was point C. in the memo; the U.S. followed through on giving China aid, China and Japan were at odds during the war so the U.S. helping would have only provoked Japan more. Point 8 of the document says "impose a trade embargo on Japan", the U.S. imposed a trade embargo against Japan on oil, gasoline, steel, iron, and other war time materials, this only provoked Japan further. According to http://waltercoffey.wordpress.com/2013/10/06/the-mccollum-memo/ there is no evidence that President ever saw the memo, however he did implement the eight points of the memo in some way.
Reasoning: The document is valid because majority of the directions/ suggestions were followed in some way, also the goal of the memo of provoking Japan into attacking the U.S. was successful.
Evidence: We have come to the understanding that the document is directed to the United States. The memo is directions or suggestions for the U.S. that are wartime strategies and action plans that would push them into World War II. The U.S. followed almost all of the directions given which provoked Japan, especially by having military bases in the Pacific which Japan wanted complete control of. Although the United States claimed they wanted to remain neutral their directions pushed them into the war and following the memo definitely diminished their neutral stance. The U.S. also helped China during the war this was point C. in the memo; the U.S. followed through on giving China aid, China and Japan were at odds during the war so the U.S. helping would have only provoked Japan more. Point 8 of the document says "impose a trade embargo on Japan", the U.S. imposed a trade embargo against Japan on oil, gasoline, steel, iron, and other war time materials, this only provoked Japan further. According to http://waltercoffey.wordpress.com/2013/10/06/the-mccollum-memo/ there is no evidence that President ever saw the memo, however he did implement the eight points of the memo in some way.
Reasoning: The document is valid because majority of the directions/ suggestions were followed in some way, also the goal of the memo of provoking Japan into attacking the U.S. was successful.