Pearl Harbor Address to the Nation

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:

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 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 negotiations, 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.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that 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.

And this morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today 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. But always will our whole nation 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 that 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 it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

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 unbounding 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 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

美國(guó)羅斯福總統(tǒng)致國(guó)會(huì)請(qǐng)對(duì)日宣戰(zhàn)咨文：

副總統(tǒng)先生、議長(zhǎng)先生、參眾兩院各位議員：

昨天， 1941年12月7日——必須永遠(yuǎn)記住這個(gè)恥辱的日子——美利堅(jiān)合眾國(guó)受到了日本帝國(guó)?？哲娡蝗坏男钜獾倪M(jìn)攻。美國(guó)和日本是和平相處的，根據(jù)日本的請(qǐng)求仍在同它的政府和天皇進(jìn)行會(huì)談，以期維護(hù)太平洋和平。實(shí)際上，就在日本空軍中隊(duì)已經(jīng)開(kāi)始轟炸美國(guó)瓦湖島之后的一小時(shí)，日本駐美國(guó)大使還向我們的國(guó)務(wù)卿提交了對(duì)美國(guó)最近致日方信函的正式答復(fù)。雖然復(fù)函聲稱(chēng)繼續(xù)現(xiàn)行外交談判似已無(wú)用，但并未包含有關(guān)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)或武裝進(jìn)攻的威脅或暗示。

歷史將會(huì)證明，夏威夷距日本這么遙遠(yuǎn)，表明這次進(jìn)攻是經(jīng)過(guò)許多天或甚至許多個(gè)星期精心策劃的。在此期間，日本政府蓄意以虛偽的聲明和表示繼續(xù)維護(hù)和平的愿望來(lái)欺騙美國(guó)。

昨天對(duì)夏威夷島的進(jìn)攻給美國(guó)海陸軍部隊(duì)造成了嚴(yán)重的損害。我遺憾地告訴各位，很多美國(guó)人喪失了生命，此外，據(jù)報(bào)，美國(guó)船只在舊金山和火奴魯魯（檀香山）之間的公海上也遭到了魚(yú)雷襲擊。

昨天，日本政府已發(fā)動(dòng)了對(duì)馬來(lái)亞的進(jìn)攻。

昨夜，日本軍隊(duì)進(jìn)攻了香港。

昨夜，日本軍隊(duì)進(jìn)攻了關(guān)島。

昨夜，日本軍隊(duì)進(jìn)攻了菲律賓群島。

昨夜，日本人進(jìn)攻了威克島。

今晨，日本人進(jìn)攻了中途島。

因此，日本在整個(gè)太平洋區(qū)域采取了突然的攻勢(shì)。昨天和今天的事實(shí)不言自明。美國(guó)的人民已經(jīng)形成了自己的見(jiàn)解，并且十分清楚這關(guān)系到我們國(guó)家的安全和生存的本身。

作為陸海軍，總司令，我已指示，為了我們的防務(wù)采取一切措施。

但是，我們整個(gè)國(guó)家都將永遠(yuǎn)記住這次對(duì)我們進(jìn)攻的性質(zhì)。不論要用多長(zhǎng)時(shí)間才能戰(zhàn)勝這次預(yù)謀的入侵，美國(guó)人民以自己的正義力量一定要贏(yíng)得絕對(duì)的勝利。

我們現(xiàn)在預(yù)言，我們不僅要做出最大的努力來(lái)保衛(wèi)我們自己，我們還將確保這種形式的背信棄義永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)再危及我們。我這樣說(shuō)，相信是表達(dá)了國(guó)會(huì)和人民的意志。

敵對(duì)行動(dòng)已經(jīng)存在。無(wú)庸諱言，我國(guó)人民、我國(guó)領(lǐng)土和我國(guó)利益都處于嚴(yán)重危險(xiǎn)之中。

相信我們的武裝部隊(duì)——依靠我國(guó)人民的堅(jiān)定決心－－我們將取得必然的勝利，愿上帝幫助我們！我要求國(guó)會(huì)宣布：自1941年12月7日星期日日本發(fā)動(dòng)無(wú)端的、卑鄙的進(jìn)攻時(shí)起，美國(guó)和日本帝國(guó)之間已處于戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)狀態(tài)。

責(zé)編:struggle