THE WHITE HOUSE
 
      WASHINGTON
 
      December 8, 1941.
 
      
 
 
The State Department called me on the phone this morning at 
      7:15 to report that the attached message had been sent to the 
      White House at 1 A.M. but had not been given to the President, 
      as he had retired. I telephoned the White House and asked the 
      Usher to please deliver the message to the President. I then 
      spoke to the President on the telephone and he dictated the attached 
      reply to the Prime Minister. I telephoned the State Department 
      and read the President's reply which was sent but did not arrive 
      in time for the Prime Minister to know the President's views 
      before he appeared in Parliament to declare war against Japan.