Today is the first anniversary of the issuance of the Greater East Asia Joint Declaration, which may be called a "Magna Charta of all nations." It is of great significance that we should be gathered here to celebrate the day together with the representatives of those nations who participated in the Assembly of Greater East Asiatic Nations last November, namely, Manchoukuo, China, Thailand, Burma, and the Philippines, and representatives of our Axis allies, Germany and Italy.
Further significance is attached to this gathering by the presence of
His Excellency Mr. Subhas Chandra Bose, head of the Provisional Government of Free India, and his fellow patriots, who fought so gallantly in their war of independence on the Indian frontier and who have just arrived fresh from the battlefront.
America and Britain, solely for the purpose of achieving their imperialistic ambition, are waging this war by dispatching huge forces to remote regions that have nothing to do with the defence of their own countries. Most recently the enemy was met by our Imperial forces who by skilful planning and fearless action dealt them devastating blows in waters off Taiwan and the Philippines, consigning his countless men together with many warships and transports to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. In America their war leaders, in mortal fear of the repercussions those sea battles may produce upon their election campaign now in progress, are busily occupied with propaganda to spread fabricated and fantastic stories of American victories.
The aim of America and Britain in their war of the Pacific is the permanent subjugation and unrestrained exploitation of Asia. They are attempting to push back East Asia from the dawning light of awakening once more into the darkness of perpetual bondage. While making Chunkging [sic] fight their war against Japan by giving the régime empty promises, they are steadily encroaching upon China and entrenching themselves there militarily, politically and economically. Their sinister designs are more than obvious. Pitting Orientals against Orientals, and causing both sides to weaken themselves mutually, they plan to achieve their ambition. By suppressing the Axis Powers who stand in their way, they want to impose upon all countries a world structure of their own. It goes without saying that they give no heed to the interests of smaller nations.
We are now fighting by joining forces with our allied countries in the East and in the West; we are engaged in a sacred war which is to crush the enemy's evil designs and to realize a world of righteousness and justice. We are irrevocably resolved to fulfil this heaven-ordained mission of ours.
In Germany, our great Axis ally, the entire people have sprung to their feet in a fervour of patriotism for the defence of their Fatherland, and they are destroying their enemy in a most sanguinary war. Likewise, in the decisive battles of these days our Imperial forces, their hearts burning with the ardour of loyalty to the Throne and the zeal for service to the State, are achieving spectacular war results day after day. Nor are we at the home front at all behind them in doing our share. In the death-defying spirit of those who are at the front our nation must fight out this war to the finish. It is our duty to defend East Asia against aggression. The soul of the East Asiatic race is not dead. Indeed, it is very much alive and active. The Orient is fully awake. Today the nations and peoples of East Asia are imbued with the zeal to free themselves from the Anglo-American yoke and to rediscover their true selves. The spirit of neighbourliness and amity, of co-existence and co-prosperity, has swept over East Asia like the rising tide. It was a year ago today that the representatives of East Asiatic nations met in one hall and proclaimed to the world the Joint Declaration which constitutes
an imperishable Charter of Greater East Asia.
The Joint Declaration describes concisely and forcefully the cause of the present war, propounds the basis for the establishment of world peace, states clearly our war aims and expresses our determination to carry on the war to a successful conclusion. There are set for the following principles:
1. The countries of greater East Asia through utmual [sic] co-operation will ensure the stability of their region and construct an order of common prosperity and well-being based upon justice. 2. The countries of greater East Asia will ensure the fraternity of nations in their region, by respecting one another's sovereignty and independence and practicing mutual assistance and amity. 3. The countries of greater East Asia, by respecting one another's traditions and developing the creative faculties of each race, will enhance the culture and civilization of greater East Asia. 4. The countries of greater East Asia will endeavour to accelerate their economic development through close co-operation upon a basis of repciprocity [sic] and to promote thereby the general prosperity of their region. 5. The countries of greater East Asia will cultivate friendly relations with all the countries of the world, and work for the abolition of racial discriminations, the promotion of cultural interecourse [sic] and the opening of resources throughout the world, and contribute thereby to the progress of mankind.
These principles, which were adopted by the nations of East Asia for the emancipation and reconstruction of their region, may well serve as universal principles for all nations anywhere and in any age. The ultimate objective of Japan is to establish a true world peace which permits the exclusion of none, but the co-operation of all. It is according to this national policy that the Japanese Government is conducting the country's foreign affairs. The five principles of Japan's foreign policy relating to our war aims, which I explained before the Diet and declared to the world in September last, are also founded upon the same policy. In these days of world-wide confusion those principles are the roadmarks indicating the correct way that mankind should take in all fields, political, economic, and spiritual. They are truly the "Light from the East," which is of imponderable significance. To give all that we have to our August Soverign [sic] in this war of righteousness is our heart's desire. It would mean to die more than a glorious death. It is from such faith that springs the conviction of sure victory.
In East Asia all countries are now actively and strenuously performing their respective tasks in accordance with the purport of the Joint Declaration. Manchoukuo, as our continental ally, "one in virtue and one in mind," has long been making invaluable contributions to the well-being of East Asia as well as to our fighting power by mobilizing all her vast natural and industrial resources. As regards China, destined to be the cornerstone for the resurgence of East Asia, President Wang Ching-wei, who is unfortunately ill at present and for whose speedy recovery we all hope and pray, is ably assisted by the leaders of the Government, and under the growing Asiatic
consciousness among its four hundred million people of the Republic, pledged to "live and die together" with her allies, is fighting on the common front. Ironically enough, the Chungking régime, the cat's-paw of America and Britain, is nowadays being made a target of abuse and criticism by their Anglo-American masters.
It is reassuring that Thailand, under the fresh and energetic leadership of the new Prime Minister, His Excellency Khuang Aphaiwong, is collaborating fully with Japan, and she is devoting all her energy to the construction of a new Asia. And all honour to Burma who, led by His Excellency Ba Maw, occupies with us the front line of the battle for the emancipation of Asia, and who is displaying magnificently the indomitable spirit of the Asiatic race. As for the Philippines, in the face of the onslaught of American invaders, the Republic stands firmly on the battle front with Japan as a great wall of East Asia, and the people side by side with our Imperial forces are fihting [sic] under the personal command of President Laurel with an iron will to guard the independence of their nation.
Then, there is India. It is an established opinion that the emancipation of India is the key to the emancipation of Asia and that it constitutes the greatest question of world justice. His Excellency Subhas Chandra Bose, head of the Provisional Government of Free India, and his staff, some of whom are here with us, have at their disposal a large Free Indian Army, and they are carrying on a heroic struggle for the consummation of the noble aim to liberate India. Rome was not built in a day. But I am confident that it will not be so very long before his glorious enterprise is crowned with success and world justice is thereby made manifest. Furthermore, Japan looks forward to the day when the peoples of Indonesia will achieve independence, for that means also the realization of her policy of respect for nationality which has been formulated also in conformance with the spirit of the Joint Declaration.
Such is the majestic picture of Asia, with its nations all united to win the war, and marching forward together to put into practice the Joint Declaration of Greater East Asia.
America and Britain are attacking us from the east and from the west with all their might. Day by day the war is nearing the final and decisive stage. A truly critical situation confronts East Asia today. At this juncture I rejoice that brilliant victories are being achieved in rapid succession and the conviction of sure victory on our side is growing stronger than ever before. In order to defend our homeland, to carry out our just propositions and thereby to bring about a new and better world, we must fight out this war and win.
Let us renew on this occasion our resolve to surmount every obstacle in our path in co-operation with our allied nations and march together onward to the final victory.