Attack of the Japs

Attack of the Japs

December 1946

Hello everyone,

I’m sorry I haven’t written in a very long time. I have been awfully busy helping my friend Mia cope with what has been happening lately. Mia is Japanese-American and had to be sent away to the internment camps after the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. Her family hasn’t lived, or even visited, Japan in almost 50 years. It is popular opinion to discriminate against Japanese-Americans but to put her away in an internment camp just because the US is suspicious is not justified! Because of that camp, her family was split up. Her husband was sent to the 442nd infantry in Italy, and her children were taken away from her. They are also very poor because all of their money was taken away from them, but she found work to keep her mouth full. I am praying very hard for her. I feel bad because my husband wasn’t sent away, and my children weren’t taken away from me, yet she is every bit as American as I am! When will the discrimination stop?

Until I write again,

Maggie Smith

Changes in Office and US Foreign Policy Progression Summed Up

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1 December 1941

Hello everyone,

Since US foreign policy has been changed quite a few times in the last decade or so, I decided I would make a quick blog post explaining it’s progression. Here we go!

Neutrality Acts (1935-1939)

  • 1935: The Neutrality Act of 1935 was supposed to let the President set specific sanctions but was not passed. However, there was a embargo which stated that the US could not trade arms and war materials with any country or group involved in a war.
  • 1936: The Neutrality Act of 1935 was renewed to include another 14 month period. Because the US was still involved in the Great Depression loans and credits to all countries or groups involved in a war were banned because of the Act of 1935.
  • 1937: The Neutrality Act of 1935 was once again revised. This time, the Act of 1935 also forbade passengers or cargo to be taken to a warring country in any US ship.However, the Cash & Carry Act was passed. This act meant that any warring nation could products from the US (as long at the products did not include arms) as long as they paid for the items in cash and transported them to their country without the help of the US. The Act also stated that US ships would not enter war zones.
  • 1939: The ban against buying and selling arms with warring nations was lifted.
In September of last year (1940), the US and Britain made an exchange. The US gave 50 American WWI destroyers in exchange for a lease on six of Britain’s bases and two free bases (all eight located in the Western Hemisphere). Also, the first conscription law was passed. Men ranging in ages from 21-35 were randomly selected to go to war. My best friend Susan’s husband was drafted by the conscription. I feel incredibly sad for her and my heart goes out to her. My family was extremely scared that Jerry would be sent off to war. It didn’t happen, but it could in the future.
This is Susan’s husband’s draft card:
In March of this year, the US and Britain decided that if the US had the same access to the British colonies’ markets and materials, they would “lend or lease” goods or products to its’ allies. They would be them back later. This should stimulate the government and we should be making more money soon. Money doesn’t really matter to me though, as long as my husband doesn’t have to go to war and we stay together.
I have attached a political cartoon showing the American opinion on Lend and Lease below:
US ships have been patrolling Atlantic and occupying Greenland and Iceland. It looks like we’re going to enter the war soon. I’ve heard some phrases being thrown around such as “Send guns, not sons” and “Billions, not bodies”. This truly captures every American woman’s thoughts at this moment. I hope with all my heart that the US doesn’t get involved in The War. If you are reading, please pray for this war to end soon.
Until I write again,
Maggie Smith

Hitler: The Treaty Transgressor

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2 December 1936

Hello everyone,

So much has happened in three years! I have a lot of world news to update you on, so lets get started.

You probably already knew that Hitler  became Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933 after the end of World War I. The way he did this was by leading the German people to believe that he only wanted to reclaim Germany’s “rightful land” after their defeat in the war. The terms for Germany in the Treaty of Versailles were also set after the war. The terms were that Germany would be a “demilitarized zone”, have a small army and naval forces, and no air force. Germany would also have to be disarmed.

However, Hitler had violated the treaty and continues violating the treaty to this day. In 1933, Germany stopped paying the US for reparation costs and started their secret rearmament. In 1935, he ignored the term in the treaty that Germany could only have a small army and added 800,000 men. The same year, the Anglo-German Naval Pact of 1935 was signed between Britain and Germany and allowed the German naval forces to be 35% the size of Britain’s navy. Britain, France, and Italy had appeased Hitler because they don’t want another war. Let’s see how that works…..

Most recently (1936), Hitler re-militarized the Rhineland despite the term in the Treaty of Versailles which states that the buffer between Germany and France had to be completely demilitarized. Again, Britain and France have appeased Hitler and did not take military action against him because France does not want to take action against Germany without the support of Britain.

Here is a photo of Hitler’s troops occupying the Rhineland:

http://www.ww2incolor.com/german/Rhineland.html

 

This is going to get really interesting. I wonder when Britain and France will stop appeasing Germany and take action. It could take a while. We’ll see..

 

Until I write again,

Maggie Smith

 

The Japanese: Exposed

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October 1933

Hello everyone,

I’m sure you all remember the Manchurian Incident in China in September of 1931. However, if you aren’t familiar with the incident, I will summarize it for you.

On September 18, 1931, there was an explosion on train tracks of a Japanese-controlled railroad in Manchuria. The Japanese Army accused Chinese nationalists of being responsible for the incident. Japan retaliated and invaded Manchuria. Within the next couple of months, Japan had set up a puppet-state, Manchukuo.

These are the Japanese soldiers as they are walking into Manchuria in 1931. http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02003/Manchurian-Inciden_2003344c.jpg

However, it has just been revealed to us that Japan had planted the bomb so that they could have an excuse to attack Manchuria! Also, Japan has stopped cooperating with other nations, has become diplomatically Isolationist, and has left the League of Nations. Japan has also stated that other countries should not interfere in Asia because Japan wants to expand. They are calling it the “Asian Monroe Doctrine”.

Now, both the United States and Japan are Isolationist.

Do you think there will be future conflict? Let me know.

Until I write again,
Maggie Smith

Introduction

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October 1933

Hello everyone! Before I get this blog started, let me introduce myself.

My name is Margaret (Maggie) Smith and I am an all-American woman living with her family in New York City.

This is a picture of me:

I am 28 years old and my husband, Jerry, is 29. We have two beautiful children named Sally and James. Sally’s ninth birthday was just a couple of weeks ago, and James will be turning five in May. Jerry currently works in advertisement, I take care of the children and the house, and Sally and James are enrolled in school. 

I have been listening to the news, and decided to make this blog so that I could share my insight on current events with the world.

Until I write again,

Maggie Smith