Read this excerpt from franklin delano roosevelt's "pearl harbor address to the nation":

yesterday, december 7th, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the united states of america was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the empire of japan.

the united states was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the pacific.

which statement is the most reasonable inference about one of the underlying meanings of the excerpt?

a. the united states was prepared for war but was still taken by surprise.
b. japan was trying hard to avoid war with the united states.
c. japan is a deceitful, treacherous, unprincipled enemy.
d. the united states was foolish to try to maintain peace with japan.