In the years before Pearl Harbor, Australian authorities were convinced that large numbers of the Japanese diplomatic and business community were spying, and that many of their Australian associates were helping them. Certainly, some Japanese avidly harvested information that was publicly available, and some Australians helped them to do so - but there's no evidence that either stole actual military secrets. Targeting Australians deemed security threats, the authorities relied on subjective judgements about people's 'loyalty' to decide whether they should be sanctioned. Nor did such suspicions about 'loyalty' die away at the War's end, the belief that prominent Australians had acted as collaborators, and had been prepared to welcome a Japanese invasion, persisted for decades. Drawing on previously unexamined evidence, this book argues that these beliefs emerged from a baseless conspiracy theory.
| ISBN: | 9781923267541 |
| Publication date: | 31st January 2026 |
| Author: | Nick Hordern |
| Publisher: | Arden |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 350 pages |
| Genres: |
Australasian and Pacific history Second World War Conspiracy theories Espionage and secret services Political control and freedoms |
In the years before Pearl Harbor, Australian authorities were convinced that large numbers of the Japanese diplomatic and business community were spying, and that many of their Australian associates were helping them. Certainly, some Japanese avidly harvested information that was publicly available, and some Australians helped them to do so - but there's no evidence that either stole actual military secrets. Targeting Australians deemed security threats, the authorities relied on subjective judgements about people's 'loyalty' to decide whether they should be sanctioned. Nor did such suspicions about 'loyalty' die away at the War's end, the belief that prominent Australians had acted as collaborators, and had been prepared to welcome a Japanese invasion, persisted for decades. Drawing on previously unexamined evidence, this book argues that these beliefs emerged from a baseless conspiracy theory.
Loyalty features in the following genres: Australasian and Pacific history, Second World War, Conspiracy theories, Espionage and secret services, Political control and freedoms
Loyalty is available in Paperback
Loyalty was written by Nick Hordern and published by Arden
Loyalty has 350 pages
£22.50