The Americans made repeated attempts to dissuade Japan from a push southward into Southeast Asia, but the two sides reached ever higher levels of confrontation. The Japanese occupied the southern part of French Indochina, and in response, in July 1941, the US imposed an embargo on oil sales to Japan. Konoye, now unable to resist the increasing pressure for war from the army and navy, resigned on October 16, and was replaced as premier by General Tôjô Hideki. Tokyo hastened preparations for war with the Western powers.67 Among the targets would be Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaya, the Netherlands
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