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. While this reply stated that it
seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it
contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.
