SWIFT DECISION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1941, Page 5

SWIFT DECISION

REACHED BY BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS Roosevelt Denounces Treacherous Attack I BRITAIN’S QUICK RETORT TO ATTACK ON MALAYA HIGH COMMAND TAKES CHARGE IN JAPAN .

, LONDON, December 8. The resolution of the United States Congress declaring war on Japan was one of the swiftest decisions in its history. It was passed within a few minutes ot i the President’s denunciation of Japan’s treacherous ( attack. As soon as the cheers died away after the President had delivered his speech, the members of the • Senate and House of Representatives went to their respective chambers for deliberation. In order that the < resolution might be considered at once, formal procedure was set aside. The Senate’s resolution pledging all the resources of the country to a successful conclusion ot the war, was passed by 80 votes to f j The British Cabinet had earlier declared a state ot war with Japan. j ■' In the brief address in which he called upon Congress to declare war against Japan, President Roosevelt said the unprovoked and dastardly attacks made by Japan, while her envoys were still negotiating in Washington, must have been prepared many days if not weeks beforehand. P Jn London, in a statement in the House of Commons, Mr Churchill said that Cabinet had authorised an edlat ® declaration of war on Japan. It had been intended that the British declaration should follow that of the United States but when news came that Japanese forces had attacked British territory, in Malaya and that the Japanese High Command, not the Imperial Government, had declared that a state of w existed with Great Britain and the United States, there was n longer any need to wait for a declaration of war byCongress. Mr Churchill concluded with a warning that the enemy had taken action which might spring from recklessness, but which might also spring from a conviction of strength, w should not under-rate the gravity of the new danger, either here or in the United States.