It is now nearly a year since the Imperial Rescript declaring war on America and Britain was granted on December 8, last year. In observing to-day the week for the commemoration of the first anniversary of the war of greater East Asia, the anniversary of that most unforgettable of all days, a thousand emotions crowd upon my mind.
The meaning of the war of greater East Asia and the mission of Japan in the war were made clear by the Imperial Rescript, and the reasons and causes of the war have been explained to the whole world by the statement of the Japanese Government, from the progress of the Japanese-American negotiations to the memorandum to America. On the eve of the first anniversary of the outbreak of the war, it is my belief that the most important thing for us to do in observing the commemoration week is to recall the time when the war began, to impress afresh the grave meaning of the war of greater East Asia, renew our righteous indignation against America and Britain, and strengthen our determination to bring America and Britain to their knees.
I see no need of dwelling on the fact that the war of greater East Asia broke out in consequence of acts of planned provocation against Japan by America and Britain, notably the American Government. In the protracted Japanese-American negotiations which were carried on for eight months prior to the outbreak of war, the American Government persisted in maintaining a stand based on abstract theories, presented demands which were impossible of practice, and insisted on one-sided concessions by Japan. It did all this in the face of the fact that Japan patiently endured much in the interest of the maintenance of peace in the Pacific and made every sincere effort to reach a settlement. While exerting itself to protract the negotiations, it at the same time attempted with the aid of public opinion to increase and strengthen the provocative armaments around Japan. The demands, the American Government presented to us on November 26, which were for practical withdrawal from the Tripartite Alliance, general evacuation of the Japanese forces from China and French Indo-China, one-sided acceptance of the open door, and repudiation of the Nanking Government, were nothing more than an attempt on the part of America to get its right to exercise mastery over East Asia. These demands struck at the foundations of the arrangemnts which Japan had managed to make for the maintenance of peace in East Asia over a period of scores of years since the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars. They disregarded the efforts and sacrifices made by Japan in the Manchurian
incident and the China affair. They brushed aside the desire of the Japanese race to subsist in the south. As a matter of fact the stability of East Asia and the very existence of Japan were placed in jeopardy. That Japan resolutely rejected these demands and unsheathed the sword of justice under the Imperial Rescript was only natural and could not be helped.
It was out of the desire to achieve the vicious ambition of establishing a hegemony over the world that America meddled in the European war under the cloak of defending "democracy," forced the greater part of the countries in Central and South America to enter the war against the Axis Powers in the name of joint defence of the whole of America, and moreover, as I have said, presented to Japan demands which utterly disregarded the actualities of the situation in East Asia. Historically, this American desire for mastery over the world revealed itself in the war America conducted against Spain in the closing years of the nineteenth century. As the result of this war, which even the Americans could not speak of without feeling the pangs of remorse, America took the Philippines from Spain. It followed the act against Spain by the proposed opening of the doors of China out of the desire to have a share in the conquest and exploitation of China, Moreover, it forced an inferior naval ratio on Japan. It also put obstacles in the way of Japan's expansion on the continent through the establishment of the Nine-Power Treaty structure. It was felt long ago that a collision between Japan, whose policy is to emancipate the East Asian races and stablize East Asia, and America, which follows a policy of sacrificing East Asia to its world policy, was bound to occur. The various demands of America on November 26, last year, could not but be regarded as a challenge to Japan.
As soon as the Imperial decision was rendered, our loyal and gallant officers and men achieved brilliant results on land, on the seas, and in the air. Within less than six months from the start of the war all the enemy bases in East Asia were destroyed. Thus the whole of East Asia has come to assume its true aspect. The enemy has disappeared not only from the Chinese continent but also from the Philippines, the East Indies, Burma and other countries. The whole of East Asia is now safe. There are strong defences in the north. In the south the gateways of Malaya and Sumatra, along with the strong fortress of Burma, stand in the way of the invasion of East Asia by the enemy. The various races and nations which are within the area thus defended from invasion have started to work to the best of their ability in unison with Japan to bring the war of greater East Asia to a successful end and realize the construction of a greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere.
As for the relations between Japan and Thailand, they have been steadily strengthened ever since Burma agreed to the passage of Japanese forces through its territory on December 8, last year, that is, on the day when the war began, and entered into an offensive and defensive alliance with Japan on the twenty-first of the same month, thereby placing itself in a position to co-operate with Japan in the consummation of the greater East Asia war. Since then goodwill envoys have been exchanged between Japan and Thailand. As for the economic relations of the two countries, they
have also been strengthened considerably. As is well known, a cultural agreement between Japan and Thailand was signed some time ago, an event which will impart an epochal meaning to the cultural arrangements in greater East Asia.
Japan's relations with Manchoukuo and China, which are to form the nucleus of greater East Asia are also being continuously strengthened. Manchoukuo, which recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of its founding, is making phenomenal progress. As regards China, the rural pacification movement sponsored by the National Government and the work of economic construction in China are making marked headway. Along with Manchoukuo, China is co-operating on a great scale toward the victorious consummation of the war of greater East Asia.
As has been stated before, the area of greater East Asia is very strongly defended in the south and north, and there has ceased to be any room for the manœuvrings of America and Britain. I have a keen feeling that the relations of Japan and China have changed completely. The revival and the prosperity of China have come to be in complete accord with the hopes of Japan whose aim is to complete the work of constructing greater East Asia.
In Europe both Germany and Italy, responding to Japan's move in declaring war on America and Britian, decided to enter the war against America and on December 11, last year, and an agreement was signed under which Japan, Germany, and Italy were to make and complete a joint war against America and Britain, co-operate in the construction of a new world order and not to conclude a separate peace. Thus the war of greater East Asia came to be linked inseparably with the European war and to acquire a great meaning from the world viewpoint.
Let me dwell for a moment on the position of the enemy camp. The enemies have suffered one serious defeat after another in the war ever since it began. Yet their fighting spirit is still strong. First of all, America is relying heavily on its vast resources and productive power, and is vainglorious enough to talk of a great offensive two years hence. In this manner it is planning persistent counter-attacks. It began with counter-offensive actions against us in the southern Pacific with the Solomons as the centre. It embarked on programmes of aggression against Central and West Asia and Africa. A short time ago it carried out landing operations against French territory in North Africa.
At home the American Government is spreading propaganda reports purporting to show Japan is a deadly enemy. Thus it has departed from the policy of having its people form a poor opinion of Japan's power. It is planning to replenish its armaments in the shortest possible time and is proceeding with the construction of a wartime domestic structure. There is every indication that it is doing all it can in order to win a final victory in the war. There is no justification in taking a light view of the effort Americans are making in order to win the war.
The American Government has been emphasizing what is termed the international ideal, and is pleading that the Axis Powers should be condem-ed
as responsible for the war. Its motive is to strengthen its world hegemony. It would place Japan in East Asia and Germany and Italy in Europe again under the Versailles structure, or more correctly it would have these countries submit to the pressure of the American hegemony, many times heavier than that of the Versailles structure, so that they will have no chance to rise.
This is the reason why it must be stressed that the war of greater East Asia will not come to an end without the defeat of America.
Japan is duty-bound to condemn severely the crimes of America which provoked the Japanese-Amrican war, threw the whole world into a great turmoil and jeopardized the position of all humanity. Japan is, furthermore, determined to bring about its fall. Heaven and all humanity will not tolerate America or its leaders go out of the way to deny the existence of other countries and races and prevent the construction of a righteous world order and the realization of prosperity for the entire world in spite of the fact that their country is vast and rich in resources. I am sure that the day will come All when it will be bankrupt and will collapse despite its great productive power. Japan has to do is to be prepared materially and spiritually to defeat the enemy in any fight. It goes without saying that the aim of the war of greater East Asia is to free greater East Asia from the yoke of America and Britain in accordance with the spirit underlying the founding of the Empire and to contribute to the peace of the world by constructing an order in East Asia under which all the races and nations within the area will attain their proper places and exist together and prosper together. There is a spiritual tie between Japan, which is constructing a new order in greater East Asia, and Germany and Italy, which are proceeding with the construction of a new order in Europe. It is heartening to learn that the three countries of Japan, Germany, and Italy are co-operating closely in the construction of a new world order. The wars in East Asia and in Europe are characteristically the same, in that fighting is going on at the same time along with construction work. It is reassuring to know that the three countries are making progress in both phases of the war. The war of greater East Asia which is for the emancipation to greater East Asia is being carried out in keeping with its relationship with the world. The world now is at a great turning point in its history. When it is considered that the current war is a struggle between the old and new world forces, one will realize how important it is for us and our children and grandchildren to understand the meaning of the greater East Asia war from the broad viewpoint of the world and humanity.