Throughout this investigation into the shifts in American foreign policy towards Japan in the

early 1940s, it became evident that historians are required to engage with a variety of sources,

both printed and digital, to gather supportive evidence for their hypotheses. However, accessing

archival sources can present challenges. For example, in studying the American-Japanese

relations of the period, one may encounter restrictions due to the classified nature of diplomatic

correspondence or the selective release of documents, which can prevent historians from

gathering all sources rather than selective ones by American or Japanese governments. In order

to overcome the difficulties involved in conducting research using classified or selectively

released documents on American-Japanese relations, historians must read secondary sources that

examine these primary documentary resources. They should also make comparative use of

historical analysis and cross-reference information from different but credible authorities.

Moreover, it is important to note that every historian approaches a subject with inherent biases

shaped by personal experiences and societal influences. In examining the events leading to the

Pacific War, sources like governmental statements and propaganda materials from both the

United States and Japan must be scrutinized for inherent biases. Historians must recognize the

potential subjectivity of these sources, particularly those that come from individuals or

governments with particular interests in the portrayal of the events. For example, sources such as

Doenecke, Justus D’s U.S. Policy, and the European War, 1939–1941 generally portray

America’s actions as protective and Japan’s actions as overtly aggressive, thereby showing an

inherent bias in the source. To overcome the problem of bias when studying US foreign policy

during World War II, a critical approach is needed that incorporates a diversity of views, cross-

references several sources, and acknowledges the limitations and biases inevitably present in

primary documents as well as current accounts.

The difficulty of choosing the most pertinent and reliable sources often places limitations on

historians rather than the lack of sources. To this end, a rigorous assessment of each source's

origin, purpose, and content is indispensable to ascertaining its reliability. This evaluative

process was diligently applied in this investigation, especially with documents such as the

diplomatic exchanges between the United States and Japan, which were meticulously examined

for their contribution to the understanding of the shifting foreign policies.