The White Falcon - 13.12.1941, Page 7

THE WHITE FALCON
PAGE 7
The President’s
War Message
Washington — At approximately 12:30 PM (EST) on Tuesday the
President delivered to the Congress the following war message:
“Yesterday December 7th, 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 solica-
tion of Japan was still in conversation with its government and its em-
peror 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 deliver-
ed to the Secretary of State in formal reply to a recent American mes-
sage. While this reply stated that it seems useless to continue the exist-
ing 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 tor-
pedoed 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 U.S. 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 premediated
invasion the American people in their righteous might will win the
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 the confidence in our armed forces—with the undoubting deter-
mination of our people—we will gain the inevitable triumph—so help
us God.
“I ask that the Congess declare that since the unprovoked and dast-
ardly attack by Japan on Sunday December 7th a state of war exists
between the United States and the Japanese Empire.”
War Declaration on Japan
Immediately after the Presidents message the following resolution,
authored by Senator Austin of Vermont, was presented in the Senate
by Senator Connally of Texas.
The Resolution follows:
“Whereas the Imperial Japanese Government has committed unpro-.
voked acts of war against the Government and the People of the United
States of America; therefore be it resolved by the Senate and the House
of representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembl-
ed that the state of war which has thus been thrust upon the United
States is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby author-
ized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the
United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war
against the Imperial Japanese Government; and to bring the conflict to
a successful termination all the resources of the country are hereby
placed by the Congress of the United States.”
The resolution passed the Senate in twelve minutes by a vote of 82—0.
The hill was rushed to the House of Representatives where it was intro-
duced by Rep. McCormack, the House majority leader. It passed the
House by a vote of 388 to 1. The one disspnting vote was Rep. Rankin,
of Montana, who woted against war in 1917. The resolution was signed
by Vice President Wallace and Speaker Rayburn and was sent to the
White House.
President Roosevelt signed the declaration of war at 3-20 PM (EST).
Roosevelt’s War
Report to Nation
Washington — President
Roosevelt made his report to
the nation on the war with
Japan Tuesday night in an ad-
dress which was broadcast to
the world at 10:00 PM. (E.S.T.)
“We are now in the War,
All in the War,” he said, and
we will win it.
“So far the news has been all
bad, we suffered a serious set-
back in Hawaii and our forces,
and our forces include all the
citizens of the great common-
wealth,. are taking a terrific
punishment in the Philippines
....The Japanese have at-
tacked Wake, Midway and
Guam, we must be prepared
for the news that all these have
been seized. The situation there
is still confused, the casualties
undoubtedly are large, I share
the anxiety of the families of
the men in those posts, I can
only give my solemn promise
that these casualties will be
reported as quickly as pos-
sible.”
He called for increased,
quadrupled production for:
“We must not only supply the
U.S. forces but reinforce other
nations.
“Modern warfare conducted
on the nazi plan is a dirty
business at best. We don’t like
it. We wanted to stay out of it.
Now we are in it, and we will
fight it!”
He added “We must give up
the idea we can ever isolate
ourselves... .We have learned
in the last two years, and most
violently in the past three days
we have learned a terrible les-
son, we must not forget it. The
children of our dead, and our
children must not be allowed
to forget the lesson .... There
is no comer of the world im-
pregnable to attack in a world
where nations are ruled by
gangsterism.”
The President said that Ger-
many had been for some weeks
threatening Japan if she did
not attack the U.S. she would
not share in the spoils. If she
did attack the U.S. she would
be given complete domina-
ation of the Pacific. This did
not mean, he said, the Far East
alone, but the islands of the
Pacific, and a stranglehold on
our own West Coast and the
coasts of Central and South
America.
“We must realize that a Ger-
man attack against Morocco
opens the way for an attack
on South America. On the other
side of the picture we must
learn to know that guerilla
warfare in Serbia or Norway
helps us; that successful Rus-
sian offensive against Ger-
many helps us; and that Brit-
ish successes on land or on sea
in any part of the world
strengthens our hand.
“Remember always that Ger-
many and Italy regardless of
any formal declaration of war
consider themselves at war
with the U.S. at this moment
just as much as they consider
themselves at war with Britain
and Russia and that Germany
puts all other republics of the
Americas into the same cate-
gory of enemies. The peoples
of our sister American repu-
blics can feel honored at that.
The true goal we seek is far
above and beyond any field
of battle. When we resort to
force as now we must, we are
determined that this force shall
be directed toward ultimate
good as well as against immedi-
ate evil. We Americans are not
destroyers—we are builders.
“We are now in the midst
of war, not for conquest; not
for vengeance, but for a world
in which this nation and all
this nation stands for will be
safe for our children. We ex-
pect to eliminate the danger
from Japan, but it would serve
us ill if we accomplished that
and found the rest of the world
was dominated by Hitler and
Mussolini.
“We are going’ to win the
war, we are going to win the
peace that follows it. And in
the dark hours of this day and
through the dark days that may
be yet to come we will know
that the vast majority of the
members of the human race
are on our side. Many of them
are fighting with us. All of
them are praying for us. For
in representing our cause we
represent theirs as well as our
hope and their hope for liberty
under God.”