Declaring war without an opening attack

In the most unconventional option, Japan declares war on the United States but initially attacks nothing. Cordell Hull's reaction to Japanese diplomacy illustrates how American officials judged their own actions by stated intentions even when Japan received them very differently. Britain and the Netherlands would then have to decide whether maintaining sanctions made them participants while they were already fighting Germany and Italy. Declaring neutrality could require them to stop assisting the United States, yet continuing the embargo would let Japan portray them as taking America's side. Their dependence on American support for the European war made either choice costly. By withholding an opening attack, Japan could create an alliance and neutrality crisis before committing its forces to offensive operations.