It was Sunday evening...[Ambassador John G.] Winant and Averell Harriman were alone with me at the table at Chequers. I turned on my small wireless set shortly after the nine o'clock news had started. There were a number of items about the fighting on the Russian front and on the British front in Libya, at the end of which some few sentences were spoken regarding an attack by the Japanese on American shipping at Hawaii, and also Japanese attacks on British vessels in the Dutch East Indies. There followed a statement that after the news Mr. Somebody would make a commentary, and that the Brains Trust programme would then begin, or something like this. I did not personally sustain any direct impression, but Averell said there was something about the Japanese attacking the Americans, and, in spite of being tired and resting, we all sat up. By now the butler, Sawyers, who had heard what had passed, came into the room, saying, 'It's quite true. We heard it ourselves outside. The Japanese have attacked the Americans.' There was a silence...I got up from the table and walked through the hall to the office, which was always at work. I asked for a call to the President. ...

In two or three minutes Mr. Roosevelt came through. 'Mr. President, what's this about Japan?' 'It's quite true,' he replied. 'They have attacked us at Pearl Harbour. We are all in the same boat now.' I put Winant on to the line...We then went back into the hall and tried to adjust our thoughts to the supreme world event which had just occurred, which was of so startling a nature as to make even those who were near the centre gasp. ...

The Second World War, The Grand Alliance, chapter 32 Pearl Harbour! (484-5), Winston Churchill (1950).

Churchill was a most deserving recipient of the Nobel Prize in literature.