President Roosevelt and Secretary Hull presented the Japanese with a ten-point note outlining the final American terms to resolve the current crisis. The Hull note’s primary purpose was to establish a clear record rather than serve as a basis for negotiation. Their demands included Japan’s withdrawal from China and Indo-China and recognition of the Chinese Nationalist government. Japan has refused to accept these conditions. Concurrently, a covert Japanese carrier force has left its bases and is en route across the Pacific toward Pearl Harbor. This force, which set sail from Hittokapu Bay on November 27, 1941, had instructions to abort the mission if a negotiated settlement was reached. However, no such agreement was forthcoming, partly due to U.S. intelligence detecting preparations for a Japanese move in Southeast Asia.

Source: Budge, Kent  G. “Origins of the Pacific War.” The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Origins of the Pacific War, 2015, pwencycl.kgbudge.com/O/r/Origins_of_the_Pacific_War.html.