One year has elapsed since the incident near Marco Polo Bridge on July 7, 1937. At the outset, Japan, acting under the policy of non-aggravation, tried hard to settle the matter locally. The Nationalist Government, however, wantonly betrayed Japan's sincerity in every step of the negotiation and has recklessly aggravated the situation under the slogan of prolonged resistance to Japan. It is extremely regrettable that the incident developed into the major hostilities in which we are now involved. At present, our hearts are filled with emotion when we call to mind the actual fact that the flags of the Rising Sun are floating over a vast area on the Asiatic Continent as the result of the successful operations of the Imperial forces, which have carried everything before them.
For this significant achievement, we owe all to the heroic struggles of our compatriots in the fighting services acting under the august virtue of His Imperial Majesty. Taking the opportunity afforded by this occasion, I wish to express to them my deepest gratitude on behalf of the entire nation. At the same time I cannot but think of those who have died in action in a strange land. The thought of those departed heroes and of their noble deeds makes my heart heavy with regret and grief.
Through their masterly plans of operation and the hard fighting of their loyal officers and men, the Imperial forces have won victory after victory so that the days of Hankow are now numbered. As all of you know, the Chiang Régime is such a Government that deliberately drowns thousands of innocent people of its own country by breaching the dikes of the Yellow River. It is against the laws of nature and man that any individual or group that commits such an outrageous act should be allowed to exist. The Chiang Régime, therefore, should have gone out of existence long ago, but for its efforts to maintain political power at the expense of the welfare of the populace and by relying upon the support and assistance of third Powers.
Among the Powers there are some which, in appreciation of what Japan stands for, are aligned with her in the fight against Communism.
There are others which, failing to comprehend the true intentions of Japan, are active in efforts not only for safeguarding their existing rights and interests in China but also for acquiring new concessions there. There may also be a Power which, knowing the utter helplessness of the Nationalist Régime, is assisting it in the hope that by so doing Japan may be brought into exhaustion of resources, a state of affairs which can easily be taken advantage of.
Such being the grave situation our country is now confronting, the nation should be reminded that it is no time for being elated with present victories or even being at ease. The present conflict is simply and rightly called the China Affair; but it in no way precludes us from thinking it in terms of the complicated international relations existing in the background. It should be noted that the Chiang Régime cannot be regarded as the only objective of our action. Every member of the nation is accordingly requested to meet the situation by understanding its background.
In modern war, the term battle-field cannot be applied only to the place where guns thunder and bullets shower, nor the term soldiers only to those who bear arms. Once hostilities have broken out, the whole territory of every belligerent nation should seriously be considered as the very battle-field, even if the armed conflict is taking place beyond its frontiers and across the seas. In our present case, therefore, the entire population, regardless of their occupations, age and sex must stand firm on the common consciousness of being soldiers, without which there can be no success in tiding over the present crisis. Modern war, again, cannot be won by armed conflict on the battle-field alone; economic and spiritual warfare form powerful factors in deciding the outcome. Consequently, achievements by the soldiers at the front, however significant they may be, cannot by themselves bring about the final victory should there be any slackening in the spiritual life of the "soldiers" at home.
The issue to be determined by war is victory or defeat. It follows, then, that we must have victory at all costs. In the history of Japan, an Empire which is characterized by a unique national polity firmly established under the Imperial Throne occupied by a single dynasty from time immemorial, not a single defeat has ever been recorded. If, therefore, we fail to win a victory in the present Affair we shall certainly be bringing dishonour not only on our forefathers who have created our glorious history but also on our posterity who will make future history. We are required to unite ourselves perfectly in thinking and action with our compatriots at the
front and to complete the mobilization and reorganization of all phases of national life, spiritual as well as material, with a view to gaining the final victory. Until this end is gained, hardships and privations may visit the life of the nation; in order to replete the fighting services with munitions, national life in general may be subjected to manifold inconveniences. We are requested to endure those adversities in remembrance of the fact that our fellow men on the China front are offering their lives for the national cause. Is it not then the duty of those at home to exert themselves at all costs in the task of consolidating the home front? The Government will not force the nation to make sacrifices blindly. What we desire is that by personal sacrifices we may prevent the recurrences of similar conflicts in East Asia and that by fighting to the finish we may eliminate the possible development of sinister designs of third Powers, thus laying the foundation for enduring peace in that part of the world.
Of the 400,000,000 people of China, there exist large numbers of intelligent and sincere leaders. These leaders have organized, in place of the Nationalist Régime, the new Governments in North and Central China, both of which are functioning successfully. Japan has, by all means, to assist these two Governments which are sincerely hoping to collaborate with Japan, with the view of building up the unshakable foundation for the peace of East Asia.
These favourable developments in the situation in North and Central China, however, do not minimize the gravity and complexity of the general situation created by the Chinese attitude of prolonged hostilities. This is why cries have been raised for a united front formed by the entire nation and why national mobilization is urgently called for. What, then, are the united front of the nation and national mobilization? Mere words and external forms have little import here. Nor has the mobilization and calling together of large numbers of men to do with national mobilization. If, on the other hand, the whole nation, men and women in all walks of life, exert themselves all the more in their own places of duty, then and there will the organization of the united national front be completed. This type of union and service is stronger and more effective than any other efforts along the same line. Briefly, every member of the nation is expected to give full scope to his or her ability, technique, knowledge and talents. The Government will carry out various control measures from the point of view of comprehensive, higher national purposes and will simultaneously look forward to improvement and development in individual lives of the nation.
I desire to remind members of the nation once again on this
memorable occasion that we have just embarked upon a conflict of unprecedented magnitude, and that for carrying through its ultimate purpose the State is relying on their determined, untiring and cooperative efforts. And I appeal to their serious thinking that they will answer this summons in their respective posts of duty, even in the face of insurmountable difficulties. Failing this, the crown of victory will never be won, nor the ideal of a peaceful and properous [sic] East Asia be realized.