The United States was at peace with that Nation [Japan] 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 the American Island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United
States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal
reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that
it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic relations, it
contained no threat or hint of war or of 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.
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Address to the Congress, December 8, 1941
