First we give thetext of Britain’s ultimatums of November 28th 1941, to the Governments of Finland, Hungary, and Rumania.
Next there follows the statement of the Finnish Premier to his Diet next day, in which he declared Finland’s policy .
Although Hungary and Bulgaria had declared war upon the United States on December 13th 1941, it was not until June 3rd of the following year that the United States Congress passes the Resolution printed below opening hostilities upon those two countries and Rumania .
Then we give (1) Hitler’s statement to the Reichstag telling of the declaration of war upon the United States and Britain, and ( 2) Mussolini’s parallel announcement in Rome.
Britain’s Ultimatums to the Government of Finland , Hungary and Rumania. November 28th 1941.
In the Note to Finland, His Majesty’s Government recalled their warning of September 22nd that Finland would find herself in a state of war with Great Britain unless she stopped in her aggression against the Soviet Union, but that if she stopped Britain would try to improve relations.
The Note went on.
On September 22nd 1941, the Norwegian Government delivered to the Finnish Government on behalf of His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom a message to the effect that if the Finnish Government persisted in invading purely Russian territory a situation would rise in which Great Britain would be forced to treat Finland as an open enemy not only while the war lasts but also when peace comes to be made, but that ifFinland should terminate her war against Russia and evacuate all territories beyond her frontiers of 1939 His Majesty’s Government would be ready to study proposals for the improvement of relations between Great Britain and Finland.
The Finland Government reply showed no disposition to respond to this overture, nor have they ceased to pursue aggressive military operations on territory of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, the ally of Great Britain, in the closest collaboration with Germany.
The Finnish Government have sought to contend that their war against Soviet Russia does not involve participation in the general European war.
This contention His Majesty’s Government find it impossible to accept.
His Majesty’s Government find it impossible to accept.
His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom in these circumstances find it necessary to inform the Finnish Government that unless by December 5th the Finnish Government cease military operations and in practice withdraw from all active participation in hostilities , His Majesty’s Government will have no choice but to declare the existence of a state of war between the two countries.
The British Notes to Hungary and Rumania, after stating that the two Governments “had for many months been pursuing aggressive military operations on territory of the U.S.S.R., the ally of Great Britain, in the closest collaboration with Germany, thus participating in the general European war and making a substantial contribution to the German war effort”, went on to convey a warning in identical terms to that in the Note to Finland.
It was announced in London on December 6th, 1941 that as from 1am, on December 7thBritain would consider herself at war with Finland, Hungary, and Rumania owing to the refusal of those countries to cease hostilities against the U.S.S.R.
The Finnish reply was stated to be unsatisfactory, making it clear that the Finnish Government had no intention of complying with British demands.
No reply was received from Hungary or Rumania.
Statement by the Finnish Premier, M. Rangell, at a Secret Session of the Diet, November 29th 1941.
“The territories we have occupied beyond the frontier and from which enemy threatened us must remain in Finnish occupation, and strategic reasons must determine how mush further this occupation is to stretch”.
He went on to say that the population of Eastern Karelia formed part of the Finnish people, and the guarantees which Finland needed applied fully to the position of the Eastern Karelians.
Finland’s relations with Germany were based “on common military interests, fraternity, loyal friendship and reciprocal respect”, while Britain was helping Russia, Finland enemy in every possible way “threatens war with us”.
The Government policy as thus expressed was approved by the leaders of all Finnish parties except the Swedish party, and a vote of confidence was unanimously passed.
Joint Resolution of the United States Congress, Washington, June 3rd 1942
Whereas the Government of Bulgaria has formally declared war against the Government and people of the United States of America, therefore be it Resolved.
That the state of war between the United States and the Government of Bulgaria, which has thus been thrust upon the United States , is hereby formally declared , and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on the war against the Government of Bulgaria , and to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States .
Joint Resolutions in identical terms were passed by Congress, declaring war upon Hungary and Rumania.
German – Italian, Japanese, Military Alliance. Hitler’s Statement to the Reichstag, December 11th 1941
Hitler announced that Germany had declared war on the United States, and had concluded an agreement with Italy and Japan by which they would make common war on the United States and Britain as follows.
In their unshakable determination not to lay down arms until the common war against United States of America and Britain has been brought to a successful conclusion, the German Government, the Italian Government, and the Japanese Government have agreed upon the following provisions.
Article 1. Germany, Italy, and Japan jointly and with every means at their disposal shall proceed with the war forced upon them by the United States of America and Britain until victory is achieved.
Article II. Germany, Italy and Japan undertake not to conclude an armistice or peace with the United States of America or Britain except in complete mutual agreement.
Article III. After victory has been achieved, Germany, Italy and Japan will continue in closest cooperation with a view to establishing a new and just order along the lines of the Tripartite Agreement concluded by them on September 27th 194o.
Article IV. The present agreement will come into force with its signature and will remain valid as long as the Tripartite Pact of September 27th 940.
The high contracting parties will in good time before the expiry of this term of validity enter into consultation with each other as to the future development of their cooperation, as provided under Article III of the present agreement.
Mussolini’s Announcement of Italy’s Declaration of War on the United States, December 11th 1941.
This is another day of solemn decisions in the history of Italy and of memorable events destined to open a new era in the history of the continents.
The powers of the “steel pact,” Fascist Italy and National Socialist Germany, which are ever more closely united, today take their stand with heroic Japan against the United States of America.
The Tripartite Pact now becomes a military alliance which rallies around its banner 250,000,000 men who are resolved to win….
Today the Tripartite Pact, in the pride and fullness of material and moral resources, is a mighty instrument of war.
It is the sure guarantee of victory.
Tomorrow it will be this instrument and organizer of a just peace between peoples.
Italians, be proud of this great hour. We shall win.
