American entry and a coalition Pacific command

Roosevelt could use treaty violations and attacks on American gunboats to justify war before Congress. Privately, he might also fear that a British-led victory without American participation would leave the Royal Navy dominant across the Pacific as well as the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean. Roger Keyes becomes a plausible supreme commander because he is acceptable to British, American, French, and Dutch partners. The combined fleets would form at Singapore, advance through Manila and Weihaiwei, and approach Japan. While the Japanese Navy gathered forces dispersed by commitments in China, Japan might strike Guangzhou, Hong Kong, or Shanghai. Large attacks on French Indochina or the Philippines would need more shipping and preparation than Japan could assemble quickly.