THE USA DECLARES WAR ON GERMANY. S.J. Res. 119 [Senate Joint Resolution]... Declaring that a state of war exists between the Government of Germany and the Government and the people of the United States and making provision to prosecute the same. [Washington:] December 11, 1941. Single sheet. Folio (315 x 210 mm). Purple ink stamps at upper right "Passed Dec. 11 1941 Planning Division" and "Daniel T. Davidson", long pencil inscription on verso below docket, small holes at folds. Four days after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the Chief Clerk of the Senate delivered the following message from Franklin D. Roosevelt: "On the morning of December 11 the Government of Germany, pursuing its course of world conquest, declared war against the United States.... I therefore request the Congress to recognize a state of war between the United States and Germany". Senator Tom Connally, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, then reported the present joint resolution, formally declaring war and authorizing the President to mobilize "the entire naval and military forces of the United States" against Germany. The resolution was read twice, considered, read a third time, and passed by 88 votes to nil. The inscription refers to both this and the adjacent lot, and reads, in full: "Dear Vic, These are official copies printed in the Govt. Printing Office. We are very busy & just finished working 26 hrs. Don't wait until you have time to write a letter but mail a postcard so we will know you are all right. Best of luck fellow | Dan, Dot, and the kids." Victor Harland was a telegraphist on board HMS Resolution when it was torpedoed off French Algeria in 1940. The battleship limped to Philadelphia Naval Yard, and Harland was billeted to Daniel T. Davidson, who worked in Communications and Planning - possibly at the White House. While Davidson was taking his family and Harland for a drive, he blacked out; Harland grabbed the wheel and was able to guide the car safely to a halt, saving all their lives. Davidson sent this and the adjacent document to Harland in December 1945, once the War was over, seemingly by way of thanks. Provenance: Daniel T. Davidson, member of a US Government Planning Division; Victor Harland, leading telegraphist and later employee of GCHQ, the British Government's information and signals intelligence agency; by descent. See illustration.
THE USA DECLARES WAR ON GERMANY. S.J. Res. 119 [Senate Joint Resolution]... Declaring that a state of war exists between the Government of Germany and the Government and the people of the United States and making provision to prosecute the same. [Washington:] December 11, 1941. Single sheet. Folio (315 x 210 mm). Purple ink stamps at upper right "Passed Dec. 11 1941 Planning Division" and "Daniel T. Davidson", long pencil inscription on verso below docket, small holes at folds. Four days after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the Chief Clerk of the Senate delivered the following message from Franklin D. Roosevelt: "On the morning of December 11 the Government of Germany, pursuing its course of world conquest, declared war against the United States.... I therefore request the Congress to recognize a state of war between the United States and Germany". Senator Tom Connally, chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, then reported the present joint resolution, formally declaring war and authorizing the President to mobilize "the entire naval and military forces of the United States" against Germany. The resolution was read twice, considered, read a third time, and passed by 88 votes to nil. The inscription refers to both this and the adjacent lot, and reads, in full: "Dear Vic, These are official copies printed in the Govt. Printing Office. We are very busy & just finished working 26 hrs. Don't wait until you have time to write a letter but mail a postcard so we will know you are all right. Best of luck fellow | Dan, Dot, and the kids." Victor Harland was a telegraphist on board HMS Resolution when it was torpedoed off French Algeria in 1940. The battleship limped to Philadelphia Naval Yard, and Harland was billeted to Daniel T. Davidson, who worked in Communications and Planning - possibly at the White House. While Davidson was taking his family and Harland for a drive, he blacked out; Harland grabbed the wheel and was able to guide the car safely to a halt, saving all their lives. Davidson sent this and the adjacent document to Harland in December 1945, once the War was over, seemingly by way of thanks. Provenance: Daniel T. Davidson, member of a US Government Planning Division; Victor Harland, leading telegraphist and later employee of GCHQ, the British Government's information and signals intelligence agency; by descent. See illustration.
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Create an alert![[WORLD WAR II.]](https://images2.bonhams.com/image?src=Images/live/2009-05/05/7865112-1-2.jpg "Source: Bonhams London")
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