United Kingdom declaration of war on Japan facts for kids
The United Kingdom declared war on Japan on 8 December 1941. This happened after Japan attacked British areas like Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Japan also bombed the US fleet at Pearl Harbor on the same day.
Why Did Britain Declare War?
Britain had already declared war on Nazi Germany on 3 September 1939. This was two days after World War II started in Europe. Japan and Germany had signed a pact in 1936. This agreement, called the Anti-Comintern Pact, was against the Soviet Union.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had promised the US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, that Britain would declare war on Japan very quickly if Japan attacked the United States.
On 7 and 8 December 1941, Japan launched many attacks at almost the same time. They attacked British and American lands in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean. One of these attacks was on the US fleet at Pearl Harbor.
How Britain Decided to Declare War
News of the attack on Pearl Harbor reached London first. Churchill knew that President Roosevelt would need to ask the US Congress to declare war. So, Churchill started getting ready for Britain to declare war right after the US did.
But then, Churchill learned that Japan had also attacked British lands. He decided there was no need to wait for the US Congress. He quickly called the Japanese Ambassador to Britain.
The British Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden, was traveling at the time. So, Churchill was in charge of foreign affairs. Churchill told the British Ambassador in Japan to inform the Japanese government that war now existed between the two countries. He also wrote a letter to the Japanese Ambassador in London. Churchill later said about the letter, "Some people did not like this ceremonial style. But after all when you have to kill a man it costs nothing to be polite."
The United Kingdom declared war on Japan nine hours before the United States did. Britain could declare war faster because Japan had attacked British colonies. Also, the British government did not need its Parliament's approval to declare war. The British cabinet could make the decision quickly.
See Also
- Declaration of war
- Declarations of war during World War II
- Japanese declaration of war on the United States and the British Empire
- United States declaration of war on Japan
Sources
- Churchill, Winston S., The Second World War (vol. 3): The Grand Alliance (1950) ISBN: 0-395-41057-6.
