Q&A · 3:10:52-3:11:31

Would British fuel supplies keep Japan away from the Dutch East Indies?

A French stalemate would change Britain's options, but a fuel deal with Japan would still depend on Britain's wider supply relationships.

Question

If France held out in 1940, would Britain supply Japan with fuel to discourage an attack on the Dutch East Indies?

Short answer

Possibly, but it would depend on British interests and how much Britain relied on American supplies.

Notes

If France remained in the war, British fuel deliveries are proposed as a way to discourage Japan from advancing toward the Dutch East Indies. Whether Britain would choose that course depends on its interests under the changed circumstances. Reliance on American factories for aircraft and other supplies could affect the calculation. The hypothetical therefore does not establish an automatic British decision to supply Japan.