The sudden criminal attacks perpetrated by the Japanese in the Pacific provide the climax of a decade of international immorality.
Powerful and resourceful gangsters have banded together to
make war upon the whole human race. Their challenge has now
been flung at the United States of America. The Japanese have
treacherously violated the longstanding peace between us. Many
American soldiers and sailors have been killed by enemy action.
American ships have been sunk; American airplanes have been
destroyed.
The Congress and the people of the United States have
accepted that challenge.
Together with other free peoples, we are now fighting maintain
our right to live among our world neighbors in freedom, in
common decency, without fear of assault.