The Hull note was a critical diplomatic communication issued by U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull to Japan on November 26, 1941. This note demanded Japan's withdrawal from China and French Indochina, emphasizing the need for Japan to cease its aggressions in Asia. Hull made it clear that if Japan complied, the United States would consider lifting the economic sanctions that had been crippling the Japanese economy. The economic measures were implemented in response to Japan's expansionist policies, which had raised alarm among Western powers, particularly following Japan's incursions into Indochina earlier that year.

On the same day, as diplomatic efforts were underway, Japan launched its military maneuvers by sending its 1st Air Fleet from Hitokappu Bay towards Hawaii. This pivotal action underscored Japan's commitment to expanding its military presence in the Pacific and hinted at a possible strike against American forces. The simultaneous occurrence of these significant events highlighted the intense strain in U.S.-Japan relations during this period, with economic negotiations happening alongside imminent military escalation.

The Hull note ultimately failed to achieve its intended effect, as Japan decided to pursue military confrontation rather than comply with U.S. demands. This decision would culminate in the attack on Pearl Harbor just a few weeks later, leading to the United States' full-scale entry into World War II. The disconnection between diplomatic approaches and military actions was emblematic of the complexities surrounding international relations in the lead-up to the war, showing how thin the lines between negotiation and conflict can be.