Hitler in Berlin and Mussolini in Rome yesterday announced that Germany and Italy had declared war on the United States, and that with Japan they had signed a Tripartite Pact against Britain and the United States.
The United States Congress met at once, and immediately passed resolutions declaring war on both Germany and Italy. Soon afterwards Mr. Roosevelt signed the declarations.
The votes were: (first column shows votes against Germany, the second against Italy)
Senate.....................88-090-0
House of
Representatives.......393-0393-0
The Senate╒s next immediate step was to pass a bill enabling American expeditionary forces to be sent to any part of the world. It was passed by 86 votes to none. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives without a division, and was sent to the White House for the President╒s signature. The bill also extends for the duration of the war the terms of service of all men in the American forces.
The German Note delivered in Washington accused the United States of aggression.
Hitler, in his ninety-minute speech to the Reichstag, said that Germany and Italy had always endeavoured to prevent this breach, but now were forced in loyal fulfilment of their obligations under the Tripartite agreement to associate themselves with the struggle of Japan against the United States and England.
