I deem it a great honour and pleasure to speak to you at this session of the Central Co-operative Council of the National Service Association—a session comparable to a general assembly of the neighbourhood association of all Japan—held in the tension of the war of greater East Asia.
Nine months have gone by since the Imperial Rescript declaring war on America and Britain was granted. The Japanese forces, under the August Virtue of His Majesty the Emperor, have been scoring unprecedented war results, and wherever the Sun Flag is unfurled, not a shadow of any enemy is seen. For this I express unbounded gratitude.
As was made clear in the Imperial Rescript, it was in self-defence against provocation of the most virulent nature by America, Britain and their satellites that Japan rose in arms. This needs no reiteration. To preclude a recurrence of the precarious situation that prevailed prior to December 8, 1941, Japan must win through, no matter at what costs.
Righteousness is with us; righteousness is invincible. American-
British submission is a foregone conclusion. But parallel with the task of crushing our adversaries, America and Britain, the gigantic mission of constructing greater East Asia devolves on us. The attainment of our war objective is impossible without the accomplishment of this great task of construction.
In other words, in the current conflict, war means construction and construction at once necessitates war. That is the characteristic of this war. Post-war construction such as has been undertaken in the past will not do; such leisureliness is denied to us. The war for self-preservation and self-defence is at once a war for the creation of the greater East Asia co-prosperity sphere in order to ensure the perfecting of self-preservation and self-defence.
In the light of our relations with Germany and Italy, this war is a war for setting up a new world order.
In order to accomplish such a historic and stupendous task, the whole nation, united as one man, and with immutable determination and infinite courage, must give whole-hearted devotion to their respective duties, thereby putting the total strength of the nation into the prosecution of the war. Government employees tradesmen, farmers, fishermen, miners, mariners and even women and children at home are, one and all, fighters for the country irrespective of their spheres of activity. And their respective spheres of activity constitute a battle front in powder smoke and under a rain of shells. With the people on the home front solidified as one mass of steel exerting their supreme endeavours in the country's cause and with the armed forces fighting gallantly, I am convinced that victory will be ours and that the mind of His Majesty the Emperor may be set at ease.
You all know that the war has been going on favourably for us. What about the enemy? The American and British Governments, having suffered reverse after reverse in rapid succession, are now showing signs of considerable irritation. At the outset they were counting on a long drawn-out war and are boasting that, with the completion of preparations in two or three years hence, they would launch a wholesale offensive.
Recently, however, they have come to have idea that this year is a grave turning point that will decide the issue of the war and an offensive. With this in mind, they appear to be switching to a more positive war policy. In Europe they are trying desperately to extend aids to the Soviet Union and to set up a second front. In East Asia they are hastening the revitalizing of bases on the Australian and Chinese continents, all the while attempting persistent counter-attacks against Japan.
The fury of the joint operations by the Axis nations has considerably aggravated the American-British shipping situation, and the London and Washington are experiencing great difficulties in prosecuting the war. They are taxing their brains to capacity to devise counter-measures.
The fact must not be lost sight of, however, that neither America nor Britain has yet lost fighting spirit. The American people, in particular, are growing more serious-minded.
At the same time, it is encouraging to see that our allies, Germany and Italy, scoring brilliant victories in Europe, in the Atlantic and in North Africa.
The international situation surrounding Japan has been shaping advantageously to Japan. There exists closest unity between Japan and Manchoukuo which has just greeted the tenth anniversary of its national founding. The National Government of China shares both joys and sorrows with Japan. Co-operation between Japan on the one hand and Thailand and French Indo-China on the other is constantly increasing. Our relations with the Soviet Union remain totally unchanged and unaffected.
Tomorrow, September 27, marks the second anniversary of the conclusion of the Tripartite Pact binding Japan, Germany and Italy. Immediately upon the outbreak of the war of greater East Asia, the three Powers entered into a common pledge to join forces toward the attainment of their common goal.
By close co-operation among Japan, Germany and Italy, Britain and America will be crushed and a new order ushered in. That is as clear as daylight. It is incumbent on the Japanese nation to renew its determination to presecute this war, however prolonged, and to overcome great many difficulties ahead of us. When the 100,000,000 people of Japan forge ahead as one mass of fire, we can expect a bright future for our Empire.