Ribbentrop also sent a dispatch to Thomsen, instructing him to hand a declaration of war to Cordell Hull or his representative at 15:30 German time the following day, that is, when Hitler’s speech to the Reichstag was already underway. Before then, no contact with the State Department should be initiated, and no communications from the American side should be accepted, probably in order to avoid muddying the waters or giving the game away.
