Japan Makes War upon Britain and America
On the day after Japan had struck simultaneously at Hawaii, the Philippines, Malaya and Hongkong, her Emperor issued a Rescript declaring war upon the British Empire and the United States of America
We also give the Resolution of the U.S. Congress declaring war on Japan, Mr Churchill’s communication to the Japanese Charge d’ Affaires in London and Queen Wilhelmina’s Proclamation to the Netherlands.
There follows the Order of the Day issued by British Commanders at Singapore.
Rescript of the Emperor of Japan, Declaring War on the United States and Britain, December 8th 1941.
We by the grace of heaven, Emperor of Japan , seated on the throne of a line unbroken for ages eternal, enjoin upon you, our loyal and brave subjects, we hereby declare war on the United States of America and the British Empire.
Men and officers of our army and navy will do their utmost in prosecuting the war, our public servants of various departments will perform faithfully and diligently their appointed tasks and all other subjects of ours will pursue their respective duties.
The entire nation will unite; will mobilize its total strength so that nothing shall miscarry in the attainment of our war aims.
To ensure the stability of East Asia and to contribute to world peace is the far sighted policy which was formulated by our great illustrious, imperial grandsire and by our great imperial sire, succeeding him, and which we take constantly to heart.
To cultivate friendship among the nations and to enjoy prosperity in common with all nations has always been the guiding principle of our empire’s foreign policy.
More than four years have passed since China, failing to comprehend the true intentions of our empire and recklessly courting trouble disturbed the peace of East Asia.
Although there has been re-established a national government of China with which Japan has effected neighbourly intercourse and cooperation the regime which has survived at Chungking, relying upon American and British protection still continues its fratricidal opposition.
Eager for the realization of their inordinate ambition to dominate the Orient, both America and Britain, in giving support to the Chungking regime, have aggravated the disturbances in East Asia.
Moreover, these two Powers inducing other countries to follow suit, increased military preparations on all sides of our empire to challenge us.
They obstructed by every means our peaceful commerce, and finally resorted to direct severance of economic relations, menacing gravely the existence of our empire.
Patiently have we waited and long have we endured in the hope that our Government might retrieve the situation in peace.
But our adversaries, showing not the least spirit of conciliation, have unduly delayed a settlement and in the meantime they have intensified economic and political pressure to compel our empire to submission thereby.
This trend of affairs would, if left unchecked, not only nullify our empire’s efforts of many years for the sake of the stabilization of East Asia, but also endanger the very existence of our nation.
The situation being such as it is, our empire, for its existence and self defence, has no other recourse but to appeal to arms and to crush every obstacle in its path.
Hallowed spirits of our imperial ancestors guarding us from above, we rely upon the loyalty and courage of our subjects in our confident expectation that the task bequeathed by our forefathers will be carried forward.
The Emperor concluded by expressing the hope that “ the sources of evil will be speedily eradicated and enduring peace immutably established in East Asia, preserving thereby the glory of our empire”
Resolution of United States Congress Approving The Declaration of War Upon Japan, Passed on December 8th 1941
Whereas the Imperial Japanese Government has committed unprovoked acts of war against the Government and 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 assembled that a state of war between the United States and the Imperial Japanese Government, which has thus been thrust upon the United States, is hereby formally declared and the President hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the Unites States and the resources of the Government to carry on the war against Japan, and to bring the conflict to a successful termination all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States .
Communication Dispatched to the Japanese Charge D’ Affaires in London at 1pm on December 8th 1941.
Sir, on the evening of December 7th his Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom learned that Japanese forces, without previous warning either in the form of a declaration of war, or of an ultimatum with a conditional declaration of war, had attempted a landing on the coast of Malaya and bombed Singapore and Hongkong.
In view of these wanton acts of unprovoked aggression, committed in flagrant violation of international law, and particularly of Article 1 of the Third Hague Convention relative to the opening of hostilities, of which both Japan and the United Kingdom are parties, his Majesty’s Ambassador at Tokyo has been instructed to inform the Imperial Japanese Government in the name of his Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom that a state of war exists between the two countries.
I have the honour to be, with high consideration,
Sir, Your obedient servant,
Winston. S .Churchill.
Proclamation by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands to the People of Holland, Broadcast From Britain on December 8th 1941.
The Kingdom considers itself at war with Japan because the aggression which aims at the peace loving nations one after the other, can, must, and will only be resisted in firm alliance.
Now that the friendly American and British peoples are being attacked, the Kingdom of the Netherlands puts all its military power and all its resources at the disposal of the common war effort.
The Netherlands did not hesitate to defend themselves with courage when they were wickedly assaulted in Europe.
Order of the Day by the Air Chef Marshall Sir Robert Brooke Popham, C.in C. Far East and Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton C. in C. China Station December 8th 1941.
Japan action today gives the signal for the Empire Naval, Army, and Air Forces and for the Forces of the Allies to go into action with a common aim and common ideals.
We are ready, we have had plenty of warning and our preparations have been made and tested.
We do not forget at this moment the years of patience and forbearance.
We have borne with dignity and discipline the petty insults and insolences inflicted on us by the Japanese in the Far East.
We know that those things were only done because Japan thought she could take advantage of our supposed weakness.
Now when Japan herself has decided to put the matter to a sterner test, she will find that she has made a grievous mistake….
Let us all remember that we here in the Far East form part of the great campaign for the preservation in the world of truth and justice and freedom.
Confidence resolution enterprise and devotion to the cause must and will inspire every one of us in the fighting services, while from the civilian patience, endurance, and serenity which is the great virtue of the East , and which will go far to assist the fighting men to gain a final and complete victory.
