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Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918
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Historical SummaryIn the early afternoon of Sunday, December 7, 1941, while two Japanese emissaries were proferring Secretary of State Cordell Hull an official reply to some United States proposals of the previous month, word reached Washington that Japanese carrier-borne airplanes had bombed the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, and there had inflicted considerable damage on units of the United States Navy. Hull said of the Japanese document, to the Japanese Ambassador: "In all my fifty years of public service I have never seen a document that was more crowded with infamous falsehoods and distortions." The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor took place on December 7, 1941, at 1:20 P.M., Washington time; not until 4:00 P.M., Washington time, did Japan declare war on the United States and Great Britain through an imperial rescript. On the next day, December 8, 1941, President Roosevelt delivered the following message to Congress.
World History 277.
Message by President Roosevelt to Congress on War With Japan, December 8, 194132
Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that Nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our Nation.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces—with the unbounded determination of our people—we will gain the inevitable triumph—so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
THE WHITE HOUSE, December 8, 1941.
32 United States, Department of State (Publications No. 2008 and 2016) Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States. Japan: 1931–1941, 2 vols., Government Printing Office, Washington, 1943, vol. II, pp. 793–794.
33 The Japanese memorandum and Hull’s full reply may be found in ibid., vol. II, pp. 786–792.
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Chicago: "Message by President Roosevelt to Congress on War With Japan, December 8, 1941," Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918 in Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918, ed. Walter Consuelo Langsam and James Michael Egan (Chicage: Lippincott, 1951), 923–925. Original Sources, accessed April 24, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=QNSJSPGALJK1FEJ.
MLA: . "Message by President Roosevelt to Congress on War With Japan, December 8, 1941." Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918, in Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918, edited by Walter Consuelo Langsam and James Michael Egan, Chicage, Lippincott, 1951, pp. 923–925. Original Sources. 24 Apr. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=QNSJSPGALJK1FEJ.
Harvard: , 'Message by President Roosevelt to Congress on War With Japan, December 8, 1941' in Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918. cited in 1951, Documents and Readings in the History of Europe Since 1918, ed. , Lippincott, Chicage, pp.923–925. Original Sources, retrieved 24 April 2024, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=QNSJSPGALJK1FEJ.
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