World War II Documents: Pearl Harbor Documents

All Americans are familiar with the “day that will live in infamy.” On December 7, 1941, the Japanese conducted a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor (called Hawaii Operation or Operation AI by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters (Operation Z in planning), carried out by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base. The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.

While everyone is familiar with sights like the USS Arizona’s destruction and the USS Oklahoma floating upside down, less are familiar with the documents that immediately preceded the attack, particularly the communications between the American and Japanese governments in the days before the attack. In fact, President Roosevelt offered terms for an agreement to the Japanese in late November and sent a message the day before the attacks, while the Japanese famously handed over their official response on December 7, hours after they had already conducted the attack. 

These historic Pearl Harbor Documents include the Roosevelt Administration’s notes to Japan on November 26 and December 6, as well as Japan’s famous “Fourteen Part Message” delivered to the U.S. on December 7 after the attack had already taken place. This edition is specially formatted with a Table of Contents and pictures of the attack on Pearl Harbor.