Today, Burma has proclaimed her independence and has declared war on the United States and Britain. Japan has immediately recognized Burma and concluded with her a Treaty of Alliance.
We recall on this occasion that for a long period of time the people of Burma, though having a fervent desire for independence, had continued to suffer misery and distress under the tyranny of Britain. Following the outbreak of the war of greater East Asia, however, the armed forces of the United States and Britain were swiftly swept out of Burma by the skilful strategy and valiant fighting of the officers and men of our Imperial Forces, inspired by the August Virtue of His Imperial Majesty. The situation within and without Burma has thus undergone a complete change. The momentous undertaking for the rebirth of Burma has since rapidly progressed, and the age-long aspirations of Burma has thus been realized within the short period of only a year and a half after the beginning of the war. In greeting this historic and memorable day of the independence of Burma, we are profoundly moved by the boundless magnanimity of His Imperial Majesty and, at the same time, feel exceedingly gratified for the sake of Burma.
Up to this auspicious day, many a patriot has, for the independence of Burma, died with a bitter and implacable heart under the inhuman oppression of Britain. When the Imperial Forces commenced their operations in Burma, Mr. Ba Maw and other people of Burma loyally upholding the trust and carrying on the tasks bequeathed by their martyred patriots, co-operated wholeheartedly in the operations of the Imperial Forces, exerting their utmost efforts by day and by night for the independence of their land as well as for the prosecution of the war of greater East Asia. Meanwhile many loyal and brave officers and men of the Imperial Forces have valiantly died in action and many brave men of Burma have offered their lives on the altar of their lofty object.
Recollecting the distinguished services of many patriots who have died for the independence of Burma, I wish to express my hearty respects and
gratitude to Mr. Ba Maw and the people of Burma, who have devoted themselves to the establishment of the new state of Burma, for their strenuous efforts and unreserved co-operation toward the Imperial Forces. At the same time, I wish to tender my profound respect and appreciation for the brilliant accomplishments in the Burma campaign of the officers and men of the Imperial Forces---accomplishments which have no parallel in history. And I wish also to express my sincere respect to the brave men of the Imperial Forces and of Burma who have died on the battlefield.
In the east there necessarily have not been many cases of speedy acquisition of independence by country, especially independence by liberation from the shackles of long-standing misrule. The people of Burma who have attained the honour of becoming a nation, from today, of independent Burma must certainly be considered fortunate and happy. However, it is not, of course, an easy matter for a country to be independent and to attain healthy development, as would be true to the name of independence. For the smooth development of Burma in the future, extraordinary efforts on the part of the people of Burma wil [sic] become increasingly necessary. It goes without saying that Japan will extend for the progressive development of Burma her increasing and wholehearted support.
The independence of Burma is now an accomplished fact, and thus the object of the war of greater East Asia from the age-old fetters of the United States and Britain is steadily being accomplished. Needless to say, without complete victory in this war the complete realization of the liberation of greater East Asia cannot be expected. We must, of course, be ever ready to meet numerous difficulties in the future course of the war of greater East Asia. But the brilliant tradition of Japan lies in our surmounting whatever difficulties there may be and overcoming whatever obstacles there may lie ahead and thus, under the August Virtue of His Imperial Majesty, unfailingly attain the ultimate victory. With ardent and superb fighting spirit on our part for complete victory in this war and with firm and immutable solidarity on the part of the billion peoples of greater East Asia for the complete realization of the emancipation of this great region, the future of the one billion greater East Asian peoples must indeed be considered full of hope and full of promise.
On this day of the birth of a new Burma I wish to extend my sincere and fervent wishes for her smooth and healthy growth and also to express once again the iron determination of Japan, by reinforcing further the unity of the nations and peoples of greater Asia and rendering still closer our co-operation with our European Allies, to march vigorously forward toward the successful prosecution of the war and the complete consummation of the construction of greater East Asia.