Joseph Newman (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Newman was an American journalist
and writer from New York
.
He worked for the New York Herald Tribune under George Cornish as a Japan
correspondent, living in Japan with his wife Mary.
During his period of residence in Japan, he made contacts with other foreign residents, journalists and some important personalities linked with the Japanese government, and became known for his in-depth reporting on the local military-political establishment before the outbreak of the Pacific War
.
He was acquainted with members of the German
and Italian
communities, and had connections in the Japanese Army
and Navy
ministries. From these sources he was able to file reports with the American media, later writing the book Goodbye Japan
, where he related his experiences there.
His knowledge about the regime made him mistrustful of the courteous and amicable words and agreeable speeches that the government produced for overseas consumption via its mouthpiece, Radio Tokyo, or the official press agency, Domei Tsushin
. He knew that these "agreeable words" hid the real intentions of the ruling , which were:
Newman thought that if the American people understood the Japanese political-military movements from the Meiji period
to the days before December 1941, it could have prevented the Pearl Harbor
disaster and the outbreak of the Pacific War. Additionally he countered the statement made by some in the West that Japan was a victim of German Nazi movements, by showing from his observations in the country that Japan had been more aggressive in the Asian mainland that Germany had been in Poland.
When the American State Department ordered all American residents to leave Japan because of hostility toward foreigners, Newman asked his boss for a leave of absence from Tokyo. He suspected he was constantly under police surveillance there.
Later, his boss George Cornish gave him leave and Newman left for Yokohama
aboard the Tatsuta Maru
(one of three N.Y.K. vessels provided by the Japanese government to evacuate the Americans before the outbreak of hostilities).
Thanks to his friends in the Japanese government, Newman obtained permission to leave the country, saying that he was taking a holiday in Hawaii
.
Newman arrived in Honolulu for a month's vacation. He was surprised at the easy access to Pearl Harbor. It was possible for anyone to observe movements and take photographs. He contrasted this with the tight security he had observed in Japan.
On 5 December at 12:30 pm, Newman and his wife boarded the luxury vessel SS Lurline
for return to New York. At 10:00 am on 7 December the captain announced that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor and advised the passengers of measures to take in the event of Japanase attack on the ship.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and writer from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
He worked for the New York Herald Tribune under George Cornish as a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
correspondent, living in Japan with his wife Mary.
During his period of residence in Japan, he made contacts with other foreign residents, journalists and some important personalities linked with the Japanese government, and became known for his in-depth reporting on the local military-political establishment before the outbreak of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
.
He was acquainted with members of the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
communities, and had connections in the Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
and Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
ministries. From these sources he was able to file reports with the American media, later writing the book Goodbye Japan
Goodbye Japan
Goodbye Japan is a non-fiction book on Japan written by an American journalist Joseph Newman published in 1942. It was intended to reveal the position and intentions of that country just before the attack on Pearl Harbor.-Overview:...
, where he related his experiences there.
His knowledge about the regime made him mistrustful of the courteous and amicable words and agreeable speeches that the government produced for overseas consumption via its mouthpiece, Radio Tokyo, or the official press agency, Domei Tsushin
Domei Tsushin
was the official news agency of the Empire of Japan.-History and development:Dōmei was the end result of years of efforts by Japanese journalists and business leaders to create a national news agency in Japan that could compete with Reuters and other internationally-recognized news agencies on a...
. He knew that these "agreeable words" hid the real intentions of the ruling , which were:
- The total defeat of the major powers in the area: United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Great BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Dutch Indies and Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... - Total dominion of the West Pacific area
- The creation of an AsiaAsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n political and economic bloc - The extension of Japanese lifestyle, thinking and culture in conquered territories
- The expansion of Empire frontiers beyond present territories, including a possible future fight with their current allies the Axis PowersAxis PowersThe Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
for total world dominion
Newman thought that if the American people understood the Japanese political-military movements from the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
to the days before December 1941, it could have prevented the Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
disaster and the outbreak of the Pacific War. Additionally he countered the statement made by some in the West that Japan was a victim of German Nazi movements, by showing from his observations in the country that Japan had been more aggressive in the Asian mainland that Germany had been in Poland.
When the American State Department ordered all American residents to leave Japan because of hostility toward foreigners, Newman asked his boss for a leave of absence from Tokyo. He suspected he was constantly under police surveillance there.
Later, his boss George Cornish gave him leave and Newman left for Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
aboard the Tatsuta Maru
Tatsuta Maru
The , also known as Tatuta Maru after 1938, was a Japanese ocean liner owned by Nippon Yusen Kaisha. The ship was built in 1927-1930 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. at Nagasaki, Japan....
(one of three N.Y.K. vessels provided by the Japanese government to evacuate the Americans before the outbreak of hostilities).
Thanks to his friends in the Japanese government, Newman obtained permission to leave the country, saying that he was taking a holiday in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
Newman arrived in Honolulu for a month's vacation. He was surprised at the easy access to Pearl Harbor. It was possible for anyone to observe movements and take photographs. He contrasted this with the tight security he had observed in Japan.
On 5 December at 12:30 pm, Newman and his wife boarded the luxury vessel SS Lurline
SS Lurline (1932)
SS Lurline was the third Matson Lines vessel to hold that name and the last of four fast and luxurious ocean liners that Matson built for the Hawaii and Australasia runs from the West Coast of the United States. Lurlines sister ships were , and...
for return to New York. At 10:00 am on 7 December the captain announced that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor and advised the passengers of measures to take in the event of Japanase attack on the ship.