In accordance with agreements entered with France concerning the common defence of Indo-China, Japan has consistently co-operated with the French civil and military authorities in Indo-China for the defence of the said region. More recently, however, with the development of the war situation, a gradual change has taken place in the attitude of local French authorities, so that they have come to fail to translate into action the spirit of common defence in the face of attacks upon Indo-China by America, Britain and others. The Japanese representetive [sic] has from time to time urged reconsideration upon them but to no avail, so that the Japanese forces now find themselves obliged to defend Indo-China singly against the enemy, who is pressing close upon the region. It means that for the defence of Indo-China, the Japanese forces have resolved to attain their obejctive [sic] by rejecting those who are of enemy character but by extending assistance to such local authorities as will co-operate with Japan.
The above is a measure Japan, much against her desire, has been compelled to adopt by military necessity and its application shall be limited to the minimum extent. It goes without saying that regarding Indo-China, Japan entertains no territorial designs, and the Japanese Government desire to declare also that they are prepared to render all possible assistance to the inhabitants of Indo-China engaged in the defence of their homeland against the invaders of Eastern Asia, and that in consonance with the principles of the Greater East Asia Joint Declaration full support shall be accorded to their long-suppressed aspiration to achieve national independence.