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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume III

99 — The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

page 105

99
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

8 December 1941

japan.

Although hostilities have now broken out1 we do not intend ourselves to declare war on Japan immediately.

We understand the United States Congress has been summoned to meet this morning, 8 December, when the President will recommend an immediate declaration of war by the United States.

We contemplate that our own declaration should then follow at once, and the House of Commons is being summoned to meet at 3 p.m. In the meantime we are taking immediately all operational and security measures as if a formal state of war already existed.

1 At 7.55 a.m. on 7 December Japanese carrier-borne aircraft launched a surprise attack on the United States Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii. Simultaneously, Japanese forces landed at Kota Bharu in Malaya and at Singora in Thailand.