[精彩演说]富兰克林对珍珠港突袭发表国会演说

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.

Transcription by
Michael
E. Eidenmuller. Property
of AmericanRhetoric.com. . Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.
Page
1

AmericanRhetoric.com

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.