Evening star., 1941-12-15
Text of President Rooseveh's Report to Conqress
On Events Leading Up to War With Japan

come next on the Japanese time
table; and 1t is probable that further
down the japanese page, are the
names Of Australia, New Zealand
and all the other islands of the
Paciflc-including Hawaii and the
great chain of the Aleutian Islands.
To the eastward of the Philippines,
Japan violated the mandate under
which she had received the custody
Of the Carolina, Marshall and Mari
ana Islands after the World War, by
fortifying them, and not only closing
them to all commerce but her own,
but forbidding any foreigner even to
visit them.
japanese spokesmen, after their
custom, cloaked these conqueSts
with innocent sounding names.
They talked of the New Order in
Eastern Asia" and then of the
"co-prosperity sphere in Greater
East Asia" What they really in
tended was the enSlavement Of
every nation which they could bring
within their power, anc the en-
richment-not of all Asia, not even
of the common people of Japan
but of the war lords who had seized
control of the Japanese state. Here,
too. they were following the Nazi
pattern.
BY this course of aggression, ia
pan made it necessary for various
countries, including our own, to
keep in the Pacific in self defense
large armed forces and vast
amount of material which might
otherwise have been used against
Hitler. That, of course, is exactly
what Hitler wanted them to do.
The diversion thus created by Hit
ler's Japanese ally forced the peace
loving nations to establish and
maintain a huge front in the Pa
ciflc.
Throughout this course and pro-
gram of Japanese aggression, the
Government of the United States
consistently endeavored to persuade
the government of Japan that
Japan's best interests would lie in
maintaining and cultivating friendly
relations with the United States and
with all other countries that believe
in orderly and peaceful processes.
Following the outbreak of hostilities
between Japan and China in 1887,
this Government made known to the
Japanese government and to the
Chinese government that whenever
both those governments considered
it desirable we stood ready to exer-
else our good Offices. During the
following years of conflict that atti-
tude on our part remained un-
changed.
In october, 1887, upon invitation
by which the Belgian government
made itself the host, 19 countries
which have interests in the Far
East, including the United States,
sent representatives to Brussels to
consider the situation in the Far
East in conformity with the Nine
Power Treaty and to endeavor to
bring about an adjustment of the
difficulties between Japan and China
by peaceful means. Japan and Ger
many only of all the powers invited
declined to attend. Japan was itself
an original signatory of the treaty.
China, one of the signatories, and
the Soviet Union, not a signatory,
attended. After the conference
opened, the countries in attendance
made further attempts to persuade
Japan to participate in the confer
ence. Japan again declined.
On November "a, 1887, the con-
| ference adopted a declaration, urg-
ing that 'thostilities be suspended
and resort be had to peaceful pro-
| cesSes."
Japan scorned the conference
and ignored the recommendation.
Horrors for Pacific Area
Seen in Situation.
1t became clear that, unless this
source of affairs in the Far East was
halted, the Pacific area was doomed
to experience the same horrors
which have devastated Europe.
Therefore, in this year of 194l, In
an endeavor to end this process by
peaceful means while there seemed
still to be a chance, the United
States entered into discussions with
Japan.
For nine months, these conversa-
tions were carried on, for the pur-
pose of arriving at some under
standing acceptable to both coun-
tries.
Throughout all of these CONVEX
sations, this Government took into
account not only the legitimate
interests of the United States but
also those of Japan and other
countries. When questions relat-
ing to the legitimate rights and
interests of other countries came
I'D, this Government kept in appro-
pirate contact with the representa-
tives of those countries.
In the course of these negotia-
tions, the United States steadfastly
advocated certain basic principles
which should govern international
relations. These were:
The principle of inviolability Of
G6TTltOIldl lllGCSllby odiu oofCASieii
ty of all nations.
The principle of non-interference
in the internal affairs Of other
countries.
The principle of equality-includ-
ing equality of commercial oppor-
tunity and treatment.
The principle of reliance upon in
ternationa1 cooperation and con-
ciliation for the prevention, and
pacific settlement, of controversies.
japanese Professions
Always Cloaked Greed
The Japanese government, it Is
true, repeatedly offered qualified
statements Of peaceful intention.
But it became clear, as each pro-
posal was explored. that Japan did
not intend to modify in any way her
greedy designs upon the whole
Pacific world. Although she contin-
ually maintained that she was pro-
noting only the peace and greater
prosperity of East Asia, she contin-
ued her brutal assault upon the
Chinese people.
Nor did Japan show any inclina-