Since I have just been appointed to assume the important post of Foreign Minister. I shall do my utmost to carry out our wartime diplomacy as effectively as our armed forces are operating on all fronts.
The fundamental policy of our diplomacy will have no change, I explicity declare here. I think, I will follow the ex-Foreign Minister's principles on the whole. This is to mean that there will be more consolidation of friendly relations among our allies, and that efforts will be directed toward the establishment of a new order in the world to the complete exclusion of Anglo-Saxon influences, which are being smashed one after another.
Regarding our co-operation with Germany and Italy, I will see to it that more efforts will be exercised for its tightening in consideration of the present stage of our joint war with these nations opposed to us. No change will be witnessed in our relations with the Soviet Union.
There is on the other hand no tangible alteration in the diplomatic principles so far followed in our relations with the countries in the greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere. We will fully respect the independence of each of these nations. The independence, I hope, will not be of the common
nature that each nation is existing apart from each other but of the character that all of the countries are closely united so that theirs will be the independence of economics and national defences as well as geographical features. This union will be based on ethical principles. It is there that Japan's national principle of having all the nations in the world enjoy the intimate relations with one another is to be most effectively followed.
My concurrent appointments as Foreign Minister and President of the Board of Information have been realized presumably because of the expected effective co-ordination between diplomacy and propaganda work at this stage of the international situation. My assumption of the two positions may have been realized so that the co-working of the Government organs will be better facilitated. You may regard the present arrangement as a permanent nature.
As to the raising of the status of the Board of Information to that of a Ministry, which is spoken of among some quarters, I am quite opposed to that plan. Under the prevailing circumstances, the present system of co-working between the two offices will be best suited.
The fundamental principles with regard to the expected reorganizaiton in the internal system in the Foreign Office have already been definitely formulated. I have not yet heard of the detailed programme of the reorganization. I will examine the details soon and start working on the reorganization in full consideration of the co-ordination to be effected with the organization of the forthcoming Ministry for Greater East Asia Affairs and the Board of Information. Also I will closely study the matters related to the personnel in the Foreign Office before ordering changes.