To the Congress of the United States:
Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 – a date which a court of law may very well determine will live in infamy – the United States of America was allegedly 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 the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons allegedly had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues 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 owing to the distance of Hawaii from Japan it will be alleged in a court of law that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government allegedly 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. Four of the eight battleships in Pearl Harbor were sunk at the pier, allegedly by Japanese torpedo-bombers. But our three fleet carriers in the Pacific escaped harm. The system worked.
Although I believe this alleged attack was an isolated incident, yesterday, the Japanese government also allegedly launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night, Japanese forces allegedly attacked Hong Kong.
Last night, Japanese forces allegedly attacked Guam.
Last night, Japanese forces allegedly attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night, the Japanese allegedly attacked Wake Island.
This morning, the Japanese allegedly attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, allegedly undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. But America is not blameless in this matter. Our oil embargo against the Japanese, undertaken to punish them for violating a treaty governing the number of ships in the Pacific, may have caused Japanese militants to allegedly engage in this allegedly violent activism.
We must remember that Shinto is a peaceful religion. Americans have no quarrel with the Japanese people, nor with their military, nor with the government allegedly under their control. Blame for this alleged attack rests solely with His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan. Therefore, as commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have appointed a special prosecutor who will try Emperor Hirohito in absentia.
Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. For the alleged attack would have been prevented if our signals intelligence personnel had been able to glean information about the alleged movement of the Japanese fleet. But the Imperial fleet, under direction from the Emperor, allegedly resorted to the shameful expedient of obscuring their attack in code.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this allegedly premeditated invasion , the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory over wartime codes.
Hostilities exist. Mistakes were made on our side, and allegedly on the Japanese side too. 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 unbounding determination of our people – we will gain the inevitable triumph over enemy cryptology – so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly alleged attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the tactic of encrypting information about ship’s movements.
