CONCERNING THE NEW NATIONAL STRUCTURE
—Address by the Prime Minister, Prince Fumimaro Konoe; at the first session of the Preparatory Committee, August 28, 1940—
IN THE midst of a world upheaval of unprecedented magnitude, Japan is today going forward with the unparalleled task of creating a new order in East Asia. If she is to bring the China Affair to a successful conclusion while adjusting herself to the international situation, and take a leading part in the establishment of a new world order, she must concentrate upon the accomplishment of this task the moral and material resources of the nation to the utmost degree so as to be in a position to take independently, swiftly and resolutely appropriate measures to meet whatever situation may arise. To this end Japan must perfect a highly organized national defence structure, the basis of which is a powerful internal structure. Consequently, there has arisen the pressing demand for the setting up of a new structure in politics, economy, education, culture and in all phases of the life of the State and of the people.
This demand is indeed the expression of the will of the nation, transcending Cabinet, faction or individual; nor is it of an ephemeral character for the carrying out of a specific policy, but rather of a lasting nature for rendering possible the energetic pursuance of any policy when the necessity arises. Whether or not Japan can firmly set up such a strong national structure will decide the rise or fall of the nation.
Among those matters which require to be considered in this new organization of the nation must be mentioned the harmonious co-operation between the High Command and the administrative branches of the Government, the consolidation of the mechanism of State and the heightening of efficiency, the institution of a new parliamentary structure for assisting the Throne. The Government, on their part, are exerting serious efforts toward the achievement of these ends; but of far greater importance is the firm establishment of that “national structure” which is to serve as their very foundation and by which the people are to fulfil effectively their duty of assisting the Throne. It is with this end in view that the present Preparatory Committee has been convened and that I request
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your deliberations and collaboration.
The aim of the new national structure is to unite all the forces of the State and people, welding into one living whole our hundred million fellow countrymen and enabling them to fulfil in the highest degree their duty as subjects of the Throne. The realization of this purpose, can only reside in the due performance by each of his appointed task. It is but natural when, as has been the case in the past, the majority of the people have no other opportunity of taking part in government than by casting a vote as the occasion arises once every three or four years, that the nation as a whole should find itself unable to take to heart the destiny of the country.
The organization of the nation is to be that in which the people serve the State in their everyday life, and must therefore embrace the economic and cultural spheres. There must be a solid nation-wide structure in which each component part is organized vertically and yet work in coordinated unity in a horizontal plane. It is because there does not exist such a structure, in which the people can effectively assist the Throne, that we see today a tendency toward conflict between those who govern and those who are governed; an absence on the part of the authorities who formulate the nation’s policies of a true understanding of the people’s real activities; and an indifference on the part of the people toward the formulation of State policies.
In view of this state of things, the essentials of the national structure are manifest: the people should be enabled to take a direct part from within in establishing the country’s economic and cultural policies, which policies should embrace every sphere of national life to its very periphery. It is only under such conditions that the will and ideas of both those who govern and those who are governed can be fully appreciated by each other and that the entire strength of the nation can be concentrated on carrying out the national policies.
For the successful realization of this national structure a national movement is necessary. Such a movement should spring spontaneously from the people themselves. Where it is planned or guided by the Government, or where it is given an administrative structure, it may hinder the spontaneous manifestation of the total strength of the nation. The present circumstances, however, do not allow us to rely solely on the spontaneous development of such a movement. Moreover, undirected efforts from below are liable to degenerate into factional strife and fail to develop into a really national movement. The Government have thus found it necessary to take positive steps for fostering and directing this movement.
Viewed in this light, this movement is a common undertaking of
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the Government and of the people; it is a nation-wide movement to assist the Throne. It is not merely a spiritual movement in the narrow sense but one aiming at uplifting the political ideals and enhancing the political consciousness of the nation. And the choosing of men of talent, reputed or otherwise, from all strata of society to form the nucleus of the movement and thus to obtain for it a strong political power and driving force is the first and indispensable step that should be taken.
The movement is highly political in nature, but it is by no means a movement for a political party. Individual and sectional interests and attitudes are necessarily in the very nature of a political party. It is true that there can be no whole without a part; to condemn parties, however, because they comprise sectional elements is not sufficient. It may be said that in those times when liberalism was the basis of economic activities, the existence of political parties was justified. It must be acknowledged that in Japan too the parties stood up against the clannish and bureaucratic influences to make heard the voice of the people. Nevertheless it cannot be denied that the past activities of the parties were often not in keeping with the essential function of the Diet, which is to assist the Throne.
The new national structure movement aims at superseding the old party politics predicated upon liberalism. It is essentially national, all-embracing and public-spirited in character. It aims at the concentration and unification of all the forces and resources of the nation. Its activities extend to the whole life of the nation. Even were this movement to rise as a popular movement, its character would not be that of a political party in the old sense. It would, on the contrary, be a national movement standing above any political party, embracing all parties and factions, economic and cultural bodies, and uniting all in the spirit of public service. When such a movement is led by the Government, those who hold the reins of Government and are entrusted with the task of assisting the Throne, are always placed in a position where they must seek the welfare of the whole but never be permitted to indulge in party politics which, in their very nature, contain elements of sectional antagonism and conflict.
As I have just stated, the national structure cannot take the form of a political party, especially when it is led by the Government. Nor can it be allowed to take the form of a single party system. Such a political system takes a “part” and makes of it a “whole”; it considers the State and the Party as one and the same thing, and views any opposition to the Party as a revolt against the State; it
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renders permanent the ruling position of one Party, with the head of that Party as a permanent wielder of the power to govern. No matter what brilliant results such a system may have reaped in other lands, it is not acceptable in Japan as it is contrary to the basic principle of our national polity of “One Sovereign over all.” In Japan, it is the privilege of every one of His Imperial Majesty’s subjects to assist the Throne, and that privilege cannot be monopolized by the power of either a single person or a single party.
If there should arise a difference of opinion concerning the assistance to be offered, the final decision would rest with the Throne. And once an Imperial decision has been given, all the subjects of the Throne should unite in obeying His Majesty’s Command. That is the very essence of Japanese polity.
Briefly, the new national structure is a nation-wide and permanent organization in which the Japanese people in all walks of life are to fulfil their duty of assisting the Throne.
Although the perfection of this structure is in no wise an easy task, the Government are convinced that it provides the best means for surmounting the difficulties which face the nation today.
His Imperial Majesty the Emperor was pleased to grant a Message on February 11 of this year, pointing to His subjects the way in which they should meet the present situation. The Government, in obedience to the Imperial Command, are taking the lead in this national movement to assist the Throne. They are resolved to overcome the serious obstacles confronting our country and to fulfil the heavy responsibilities which are theirs to “guard and maintain the prosperity of the Imperial Throne.”
I have invited eminent authorities from the Government, from the Army and Navy, and from circles outside of the Government to join this Preparatory Committee for the National Structure, and I ask that you will study and collaborate in solving the questions relating to the general lines of the organization, the creation of a central organ for the national movement, and the adjustment of its relations with existing organizations as well as its coordination with the structure of the State.
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