PREMIER HIDÉKI TOHJO'S MESSAGE TO THE DIET, FEBRUARY 16, 1942
As has been already announced by the Imperial Headquarters, the Imperial forces have occupied Singapore yesterday, February 15.
The Army and Navy authorities will make their reports concerning the circumstances of the actual fighting. However, I am glad to state my views and conviction at this opportunity.
At the outset of the war, following the issuance of the gracious Imperial Rescript, our forces immediately crushed the main body of the American-British fleet; and in eighteen days they brought Hongkong to submission; in twenty-six days they occupied Manila, and in seventy days they brought about the fall of Singapore. Thus the important bases of the United States and Britain for their encroachment on East Asia for many years past have al, fallen into the hands of the Imperial forces. Such strategic points as Borneo, Celebes, and New Britain have also all been occupied by our forces, andl [sic] moreover, the main body of the Dutch East Indies fleet has been annihilated. The Imperial Army and Navy are now carrying out operations in a vast area, the largeness of whose scale is unparalleled in the history of mankind.
These brilliant victories are solely due to the August Virtue of His Majesty the Emperor under which the officers and men of the Imperial forces are bravely and energetically carrying on their campaign. To the spirits of those who have offered their lives for the defence of the Empire, with no concern for their homes and their own lives; to those officers and men who are sick or wounded in remote strange lands; to those who are strenuously fighting on land, sea, and in the air by defying extraordinary difficulties and dangers; and to those fellow countrymen who have sent their husbands, sons, and brothers to the front enabling the latter to exert themselves without worry and who are looking after their homes or helping them and are doing their best in the service behind the guns by enduring all difficulties—to all of them I wish to tender my profound appreciation.
As I have already stated on various occasions, the object of the war for greater East Asia has its origin in the great ideal which inspired the founding of our Empire. It aims at securely establishing a new order of co-existence and co-prosperity on ethical principles, with our Empire as its nucleus, by making each country and people in greater East Asia have its proper place. It is completely different in its essential character from the attitude of the United States and Britain toward East Asia.
Singapore and other strategic points, which have hitherto been the bases of the United States and Britain for the invasion and domination of East
Asia, are resurrecting with the boundless hope and glory as bases for the construction of a new order and defence for the peoples of greater East Asia. Hongkong, the Philippines, and the Malay Peninsula are already starting on the road for such new construction with steady strides.
On this epochal occasion I wish to reiterate once more the real intentions of Japan to the peoples and countries concerned.
The Imperial forces are steadily carrying out offensive operations in the region of Burma also with her strategic points falling one after another into their hands. But the true intention of Japan in marching into Burma is to crush British military bases as well as to cut off the route for American and British aid to the Chiang kai-shek régime. It is farthest from the thought of Japan to regard the Burmese people as her enemy. Therefore, if the Burmese people take full cognizance of the actual situation of Britain, who has exposed her utter inability, and offer to co-operate with Japan by shaking off the shackles of the British rule of many years past, Japan will gladly extend them its positive co-operation for the establishment of Burma for the Burmese, the long-cherished aspiration of the Burmese people.
It is a golden opportunity for India having, as she does, several thousand years of history and splendid cultural tradition, to rid herself of the ruthless despotism of Britain and participate in the construction of the greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere. Japan expects that India will restore her proper status as India for the Indians and she will not stint herself in extending assistance to the patriotic efforts of the Indians. Should India fail to awaken to her mission forgetting her history and tradition, and continue as before to be beguiled by the cajolery and manipulation of Britain and act at her beck and call, I cannot but fear that an opportunity for the renaissance of the Indian people would be forever lost.
As regards the Dutch forces which continue to resist us by co-operating with the United States and Britain, Japan will thoroughgoingly crush them. However, if the Indonesian people understand our real intention and co-operate with us for the greater East Asian construction, we will respect their desire and tradition and emancipate them from the despotic rule of the refugee Dutch Government, which is merely a puppet of the United States and Britain, and make their present region a land of contentment for the Indonesian people.
Australia and New Zealand also should avoid a useless war with their reliance upon the United States and Britain who are not worth any dependence. Whether the peoples of these regions will or will not enjoy happiness and welfare depend entirely upon whether or not their Governments understand the real intentions of Japan and take a fair and just attitude. How Britain has used and treated the officers and men of the Australian and New Zealand forces in Europe, in Hongkong and again in the Malay Peninsula must be fully known to the peoples of Australia and New Zealand themselves.
Let us now turn to China. By the fall of Singapore a corner of the anti-Japanese encircling front, boasted by the United States and Britain has collapsed and with the irresistible advance of the Imperial forces, the
so-called Burma route is doomed to be cut off shortly. As a consequence, the Chiang Kai-shek régime is on the verge of becoming isolated and helpless and Japan intends resolutely to deal a finishing blow to that régime. But as I have repeatedly said, the attitude of Japan toward the people of China is that of regarding them as our brothers: Japan intends to carry on the greater East Asian construction with the people of China by helping each other. It is, therefore, to be sincerely regretted that, on account of their being misled by some bigoted leaders, the Chinese people are still suffering the miserable plight at this glorious time of the rise of greater East Asia.
As regards South American and other neutral countries, it is my firm belief that they will understand our real intentions and will not commit the folly of pulling the chestnuts out of the fire under the pressure of the United States and Britain.
I wish to take this opportunity to express, together with our people, the profound appreciation to our Allied countries for their co-operation and goodwill extended to us. It is a source of real gratification that Manchoukuo, the National Government of the Republic of China, Thailand and French Indo-China, sharing always the joys and trials with Japan, are going forward with Japan toward the construction of the greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere.
It is truly impressive that Germany and Italy and other European Allies of ours are achieving brilliant victories in close co-operation with Japan and are putting forth their efforts for the construction of a new world order. I wish to pay my profound respect for their brave and strenuous efforts and earnestly wish them increasing success in battle.
Singapore has now fallen. But this means that it marks the completion of only the first stage in the prosecution of the war of greater East Asia. There should be no relaxation of morale, nor allowing themselves to be elated by victory, on the part of our people. The war remains to be fought hereafter. With the recent great victory as a turning point, Japan will make her co-operation with her Allies still clear and carry on vigorous military operations, thereby dealing a crushing blow to the United States and Britain and their satellites.
Having received the report of the fall of Singapore, I, together with our entire nation, whole-heartedly congratulate the Imperial forces on their victories and at the same time solemnly pledge, with unity of all the people and with a renewed appreciation, to attain the object of the war by devoting the total strength of the nation, thereby setting the mind of His Imperial Majesty at rest.