PREMIER TOHJO'S ADDRESS TO THE EIGHTY-SECOND SESSION OF THE DIET, JUNE 16, 1943
I am profoundly moved by the most gracious Rescript which His Majesty the Emperor was pleased to grant us specially at the opening ceremony of the Diet today. In loyal obedience to the August Will of our Sovereign, it is my firm intention, together with you, gentlemen, to exert our utmost efforts in the performance of our important wartime duties and for a speedy attainment of the object of war, and thereby set His Majesty's mind at rest.
A year and a half have elapsed since the outbreak of the war of greater East Asia. Under the August Virtue of His Imperial Majesty, the officers and men of the Imperial forces have occupied and are holding fast wide battle areas. They are now extending the war result by destroying the enemy, fighting against diseases, enduring extremes of heat and cold, braving wind and storm, and overcoming all kinds of difficulties. With you I wish to give our heartfelt thanks to the insuperably loyal and brave officers and men for their constant toils, as well as their skillful planning and gallant fighting.
To achieve these victories, many a brave fighting man as a shield for the Sovereign has perished on the battle-field and is now enshrined as a guardian diety of our land. Especially the sublime death in action of the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet, Fleet-Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, on the foremost front in the south, and the tragic end of Commander Yasuyo Yamazaki and the officers and men under him on the Island of Attu, have strongly moved the hearts of our people.
Thinking of the many loyal and brave officers and men, who sacrificed themselves for the eternal cause of loyalty and patriotism, and who have performed such heroic deeds, there is none among the entire people of Japan who will not resolutely rise to follow in the footsteps of these heroes. None of us people will fail to strengthen anew his determination not to cease fighting until the enemy is completely defeated. Only because there are such heroes and those that follow them, are we assured of the final victory in the present war.
Recalling together with you the great and distinguished services of the late Fleet-Admiral Yamamoto and other loyal and brave officers and men who died, I wish to express our sincere sorrow and to pledge at the same time that we shall dedicate ourselves to the task of defeating our enemies and thus answer the loyal spirits of these fallen heroes.
I wish also at this opportunity to pray with you, gentlemen, for the speedy recovery of the wounded and sick officers and men, and the early arrival of the day when they will see service again. On the other hand, I wish to tender the expression of our heartfelt sympathy to the families of those who have died on the battle-field.
Now under the August Virtue of His Imperial Majesty our strategic position of sure victory in greater East Asia is being strengthened day by day, with vast resources of the region being rapidly utilized for our fighting power. This development on our part in greater East Asia is one that seals the fate of our enemies. Alarmed by the rapidity of the development of our position, the United States and Great Britain are attempting to check or obstruct it at all costs. They are increasingly showing signs of making counter-offensives by mobilizing their entire material force which is their sole reliance. But these are merely usual things which Japan has naturally foreseen.
Seizing the opportunity of such counter-offensives of the enemies, the Imperial forces are meeting them wherever they come. Our forces are not only inflicting telling blows on them, but also are developing new methods to defeat them. In fact, the Imperial forces are now carrying out grand-scale operations in China, in the region along the Burmese-Indian frontier, and in the Pacific to deal increasingly servere [sic] blows to the enemy.
Thus the war situation becomes increasingly tense and the battles which repeatedly take place more grim and terrific. The time has just arrived when the 100,000,000 of our people, firmly holding the position of sure victory, should fully demonstrate the real merit of their spirit of loyalty and patriotism with an inflexible faith in ultimate victory that grows as national dangers increase---a strong point in the tradition of our nation.
In the present circumstances such as described above, let us not overlook the painful and precarious situation which confronts the Anglo-Saxon countries, and which they are trying by all means to hide. Our nation will fight out this war of will power and win this war of perseverance by putting forth all our efforts until that day when our adversaries are brought to submission.
The present trend in greater East Asia reveals that the confidence of the countries and peoples of this region in Japan, as well as their sincere and voluntary co-operation with us for the successful prosecution of the war, is becoming stronger day by day. Having recently visited China, Manchoukuo and the Philippines, and having had opportunities to witness personally the actual conditions on the spot and to carry on frank exchanges of views and opinions with principal leaders there, I have been further strengthened in my conviction regarding this point.
It goes without saying that it is Japan's immutable policy to free greater East Asia permanently from the age-long Anglo-Saxon domination and restore this region to its natural and proper condition. The various measures which Japan has taken have all been in perfect consistency with this fundamental policy. With the passing of a year and a half since the outbreak of the war, the entire peoples of greater East Asia, thoroughly understanding the real intention of Japan, are fully convinced that there cannot be emancipation of greater East Asia without complete victory of Japan, and that there can be no happiness for them without the inauguration of a new era in greater East Asia. This is indeed a matter for congratulation for the whole of greater East Asia.
In view of such a situation, the Government, in response to the enthusiastic co-operation of these peoples, are considering at this time the initiation of further measures. Let me state frankly the views of the Government on the principal points.
As for Manchoukuo, that country regards Japan as a kindred nation and, with His Majesty the Emperor of Manchoukuo personally setting examples to his people, the co-operation of the whole nation in complete unity with Japan in both material and spiritual spheres is very great. The cordiality of the relations that bind Japan and Manchoukuo leave nothing to be desired. Japan intends to respond increasingly to this trust of Manchoukuo and to put forth more and more effort for the latter's steady development.
As for China, the Government and people, under the spirited guidance of President Wang Ching-wei, have heartily responded to our sincere attitude and are co-operating with us in the spirit of the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration, marching steadily forward toward the attainment of the common objective. China, which has suffered for a hundred long years owing to the ambitions of the Anglo-Saxon countries for world domination, is at last free. She is now striving hard to strengthen herself; and by joining forces with Japan, she is ready to contribute her enormous powers as a completely independent nation toward the establishment of a new era in greater East Asia.
Thus the ideal of China for the Chinese, for the realization of which the Chinese people have aspired for many decades past, is being steadily accomplished. The fact that of late a number of influential leaders like Generals Pang Ping-hsun, Sun Tien-ying, and Jung Tzu-heng are, one after another, leaving the Chungking régime to join President Wang is a natural development attendant upon the rebirth of China. Such a vigorous rise and development of China is indeed a source of genuine gratification for China herself, as well as for Asia and the entire world.
On our part, we heartily felicitate the rise of China, and we are determined more than ever to assist her by all means available . In this spirit we intend to make fundamental revisions in the Treaty between Japan and China with a view to enhancing further the active co-operation between the two countries.
Turning to Thailand, we find that nation, having discarded all her intricate relations of long standing with the United States and Great Britain, has bravely joined fate with Japan. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Pibul Songgram she is marching valiantly and vigorously forward, surmounting numerous difficulties in the way, for which I wish to pay my profound respects. In promoting closer collaboration with Thailand, we are firmly resolved to extend her our utmost co-operation in military, economic and political fields. Furthermore, I wish to declare here that Japan, considering the age-old aspiration of the Thai nation, and being solicitous of the further advancement of that country, is prepared to afford her new co-operation.
As regards Burma, we received in our capital, as you know, Chief Administrator Dr. Ba Maw in March of this year to whom I conveyed the decision of our Government. That we could see clearly the earnest determination of the chief administrator and other leaders in regard to the independence of Burma and their co-operation to prosecute successfully the present war is a fact of which you gentlemen are well aware. It is gratifying to note that the Preparatory Commission for Independence was organized on May 8th, and the necessary preparations for independence are steadily progressing. It is my confident expectation that these preparations will be completed in a very short time and the glorious day of historic importance will soon arrive.
With regard to the Philippines, Mr. Jorge Vargas, Chairman of the Executive Commission, and other leaders are earnestly devoting their best efforts toward the reconstruction of their nation, as well as toward the co-operation with Japan for the prosecution of the war, while the people in general who have come to understand our true intentions are extending us positive service. Our attitude regarding the independence of the Philippines has already been clarified in our repeated pronouncements in the past. At this juncture, we wish to go a step further and declare that we will accord the honour of independence to the Philippines in the course of the current year.
The people of the Philippines who, toiling under the crafty American
rule have long been vainly chasing after the mirage of independence, are now to attain their long-cherished aspiration within less than two years of the outbreak of the present war. We can well imagine the feeling of gratification on the part of the Filipino people. This is indeed a matter for sincere congratulation for the Philippines in particular and greater East Asia in general.
The populations in Malai, Sumatra, Djawa, Borneo, Celebes and other places under Japanese military administrations are assiduously extending their co-operation toward Japan. Even in the midst of war, they have been liberated and accorded educational and cultural blessings under the sympathetic guidance of the Japanese authorities, so that they are now enjoying a life of hope and happiness never experienced in the past. It is, I believe, a matter of hearty congratulation for the Indonesian people.
It is our intention to go further and, in pursuance of the aspirations of the natives, to take measures step by step envisaging the participation of the native populations in government to the extent commensurate with the degree of their ability in the course of the year. In particular, we intend to realize this state of affairs as early as possible in Djawa in view of the advanced conditions of the island and in response to the desire of the people there.
As for French Indo-China, the French authorities there are doing well under a rather complicated and difficult situation. Japan intends to effect ever closer co-operation with French Indo-China in accordance with the Japanese-French Protocol concerning the joint defence of French Indo-China.
In this way, the great ideal, which inspired the founding of the Japanese Empire, that all countries and peoples should enjoy peace and security, is being steadily realized throughout the region of greater East Asia. A brilliant dawn has thus broken over the peoples in this quarter of the globe who have suffered for many years from the exploitation of other countries.
In contrast with the steady and vigorous development achieved by all the countries and peoples of Asia, India is still going through a terrible ordeal in the process of attaining complete independence under Britain's ruthless oppression. For this plight of India I feel at once sympathy and indignation. Japan is firmly resolved to exhaust all means in order to help expel and eliminate from India Anglo-Saxon influences which are the enemy of the Indian people, and enable India to attain full independence in a true sense of the term. I confidently look to the day, which I trust will soon come, when the ardent and wide-spread desires of the Indian people are fulfilled and they regain freedom and prosperity.
Turning to the European situation, we see that Germany, Italy and their Allies are marching ahead toward ultimate victory and tightening their alignment with Japan ever more closely. I firmly believe in the success of the magnificent prosecution of the war by Germany, Italy and their Allies, by virtue of their impregnable position which has already been secured and the inflexible leadership which is assured of victory. Japan pledges to fight it through to the common victory, shoulder to shoulder with Germany, Italy and their Allies, by drawing closer together and mutually extending aid and
assistance.
Our enemies, the Anglo-Saxon countries, are making the end justify the means. They are disturbing peace everywhere in the world, endeavouring to force neutral Powers into the war. After they have induced other nations into their war, they make it a point to let the latter bear the brunt of fighting, avoiding sacrifices on their part as much as possible. Once, however, the situation takes an adverse turn, they do not hesitate to forsake their allies, disregarding their past pledges and promises.
They used to profess their stand for the protection of the independence of smaller States. But they have now made a complete volte face, advocating hegemony by great Powers. They have no scruples. Nor are they ashamed to seek ease and comfort for themselves at the sacrifice of others. I take this opportunity to pay my respects to those nations who firmly maintain their neutrality in the face of Anglo-American intrigues. Amicable relations are being maintained between Japan and those countries. It is hoped that these friendly bonds will be drawn still closer.
The situation at home and abroad is certainly not without difficulties. Under the current situation, the 100,000,000 people of Japan have renewed their will to fight it out in order to discharge their duties as worthy subjects of His Imperial Majesty. They have renewed their pledge to prosecute the war with all their might to a successful conclusion, by sharing in the determination of the officers and men of the gallant Imperial forces on the battle-field.
At this important juncture, the Government are seeing to it that this renewed pledge is fully carried out. In order to prosecute this great war to a glorious termination, by winning victories on the battle-field and succeeding in construction, the Government are determined to surmount all obstacles whether at home or abroad. Fortunately, our industrial production has been remarkably imporved [sic] and expanded since the latter part of last year. The Government will reinforce further the war structure with whole-hearted co-operation of the people and concentrate all efforts of the nation on the augmentation of fighting power.
It is for this purpose that the Government have petitioned the Throne to convoke the present extraordinary session of the Diet and submitted budget and bills relating to the re-adjustment of enterprises and emergency increase in the production of food.
The proposed re-adjustment of enterprises is intended to make the entire nation contribute to the augmentation of fighting power, by extending the principle of the past re-adjustment of enterprises and executing a thorough-going re-adjustment in every department of industry. Concerted efforts of the entire nation is absolutely necessary for a smooth execution of this plan. All the people are urged, therefore, to appreciate the Government's intentions and co-operate with the Government positively, by completing the re-adjustment as soon as possible and placing the right man in the right place so as to enable each to give full play to his abilities. The measure under contemplation will entail defrayment of several billions of yen. The bill for disposing
of the fund for the re-adjustment of enterprises has been specially submitted to the Diet for the purpose of dealing with this fund to be defrayed. The entire Japanese people who have already been endeavouring to increase savings and economize consumption are requested to redouble their efforts to check the floating purchasing power and preserve the national economic order.
It is hardly necessary to mention that the Government are taking all possible measures with regard to food which is necessary for safeguarding the national livelihood during wartime. At the present stage of the war, however, particularly strenuous efforts must be put forth for attaining self-supply and self-sufficiency in food, by paying consideration to all contingencies. In line with this policy, the Government intend to effect an epochal increase in the production of rice, barley, wheat, potatoes and other foodstuffs with a view to placing the matter of food supplies in the most reassuring position in these critical times.
While conducting administration in a most efficient manner, the Government intend to march forward toward final victory by suspending or abandoning all activities having no direct bearing upon the prosecution of war and mobilizing both officials and people for war production. It is in line with this policy that the Government have decided not to hold the elections for the prefectural assemblies this year and have submitted a bill relating to it.
It is my earnest desire that you gentlemen, understanding the Government's intentions I have just stated, will deliberate over and speedily approve the budget and the bills submitted by the Government.