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                              PAPER XXXIII

"The long known and the long expected has thus taken place." 

Message to the Congress requesting the recognition of a state of war 
   with Germany and Italy, December 11, 1941

To the Congress of the United States: 

On the morning of December 11 the Government of Germany, pursuing its 
course of world conquest, declared war against the United States. 

The long known and the long expected has thus taken place. The forces 
endeavoring to enslave the entire world now are moving toward this 
hemisphere. 

Never before has there been a greater challenge to life, liberty, and 
civilization. 

Delay invites greater danger. Rapid and united effort by all the peoples 
of the world who are determined to remain free will insure a world 
victory of the forces of justice and of righteousness over the forces of 
savagery and of barbarism. 

Italy also has declared war against the United States. 

I therefore request the Congress to recognize a state of war between the 
United States and Germany and between the United States and Italy. 

                                                  FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. 

THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 11, 1941. 

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See Paper XXXI of this series for the message calling for a declaration 
of a state of war with Japan.