Your Excellency the Burmese Ambassador Thein Maung, Excellencies and Gentlemen:
At this auspicious occasion where we have been invited to celebrate the first anniversary of the independence of Burma, it is my great honour to speak a word on behalf of the guests.
As His Excellency Ambassador Thein Maung said just now, it was a year ago today that Burma, casting off the yoke of British tyranny for the past sixty years, declared her independence before the whole world, and simultaneosly [sic] declared war upon our common enemy, Britain and America.
With the outbreak of the war of greater East Asia, the Burmese people, who had been bitterly suffering under Britain's maladministration for many years, rose to render heroic co-operation to the Japanese forces, and succeeded at last in realizing their long-cherished aspiration for independence and sovereignty. This was most gratifying to the Japanese Empire, whose policy is to establish Asia for the Asiatics by crushing the Anglo-Saxon ambition for world hegemony. Not only Japan alone but all her allies also rejoiced at the birth of the new Burmese State founded on the principle of righteousness, at once recognized her independence, and have ever since continued close co-operation with her for the prosecution of our common war.
Despite the severity and bitterness of the current war situation, Burma has made steady strides in her construction during the past twelve months, and while fighting gallantly, shoulder to shoulder, with her brother countries of greater East Asia. This brilliant record clearly demonstrates the ardent patriotism and indomitable spirit of the seventeen million people of Burma, to which are due our deepest respects. It is our confident hope that Burma, taking advantage of her invaluable experience in the past one year, will achieve national developemnet [sic] with ever increasing steadiness under the able guidance of her Head of state Dr. Ba Maw, and make herself in name and in deed a powerful member in the community of greater East Asiatic nations.
The Axis Powers, in close unison, are now engaged in sanguinary battles in Asia and Europe. At this momentous juncture, let us recall afresh the
significance of Burmese independence, convince ourselves more firmly than ever in our fight for the cause of justice, so that final victory will surely be ours and renew our pledge to restore East Asia by furthering the intimate co-operation among our allied nations.
In conclusion, I wish to propose a toast to the success of the State of Burma and to the health of His Excellency Ambassador Thein Maung.