Critical Thinking Questions   Map List       If you'd like to print out this page, click the Print button above. Alternatively, you may click the printer icon on your browser's toolbar, or choose File>Print from the menu.     1. How did economics affect the Japanese decision to invade the Dutch West Indies? 2. How geographically compact was the Japanese Empire in 1937? Why would this be useful to Japan? What would be the various problems associated with trying to conquer and then maintain control of a far-flung empire such as that acquired by Japan by the middle of World War II? 3. Why was winning control of the small islands in the tropical Pacific Ocean of vital importance to the United States?