The Japanese scarcely could have planned anything
psychologically more inept than the way they plunged us into war.
After they struck, as they did, there was no room for any argument
on the part of Americana. We were attacked by those who had been
using peace negotiations as a screen to cover preparedness to
deliver what they supposed would be a knockout surprise blow.
The President, in his address to Congress
yesterday, outlined the efforts we had made to avoid conflict. He
told how the Japanese warcraft must have been on the way to the
battle stations while envoys in Washington were getting delay
through the pretense of peace negotiations. The Japanese awakened
the American people, in one startling moment, to what war with them
means.
The ruthlessness and duplicity of Japan was
disclosed. The attackers made it plain there is no limit to which
they will not go; that it is a case of them or us. We have accepted
that challenge as a people with but one purpose. All our strength
and resources will be put forth to carry out the President's
promise that we will not only defeat Japan, but make certain that
never again shall we be threatened from that quarter.
