This work investigates the causal relationship between the United States' intelligence-gathering efforts, specifically the 'Magic' decryption program, and the diplomatic failures leading to the outbreak of the Pacific War. Keiichiro Komatsu, an expert in Japanese diplomatic history, utilizes declassified intelligence records and primary source diplomatic cables to argue that the reliance on intercepted communications created a distorted perception of Japanese intent. The text examines how the interpretation of these signals influenced American policy decisions and ultimately failed to prevent the escalation of hostilities.

Historians and intelligence scholars frequently cite this text for its rigorous examination of the intersection between signals intelligence and diplomatic failure. The prose is noted for its academic density and focus on the technical aspects of wartime communication analysis.