At this momentous turning-point in world history, the Government, in obedience to the profound and boundless will of His Imperial Majesty, have decided to conclude a tripartite pact with Germany and Italy, and to energetically cooperate in the promotion of a lasting peace and the progress of the world. Keenly conscious of the grave responsibility which rests upon me as Prime Minister of Japan at this juncture, I take the liberty of calling upon you, my compatriots, for your unremitting exertions, laying bare the truth of the current situation.
Three years have elapsed since the outbreak of the China Affair, in the course of which Japan, under the august virtue of the Throne, has reaped results unprecedented in her history through the heroic devotion of the officers and men of her Combatant Services. Meanwhile, however, the manœuvres of certain Powers interested in this part of the world have rendered the nature of the conflict increasingly complex and made the reaching of a solution more difficult. In the last analysis, the Sino-Japanese conflict is an abnormal internecine war in East Asia, brought into existence under the heavy pressure of the old world order. The settlement of the Affair can be effected only by eradicating the inconsistencies underlying such a world order. Accordingly, while engaged in the settlement of the current hostilities in China, Japan has come to participate and play an important part in the high task of bringing about a new era in the world.
A close scrutiny of the actual conditions prevailing in East Asia and Europe will reveal the fact that Japan, Germany and Italy are continuing their common efforts to break down the old order in their respective spheres; Germany and Italy are engaged in the task of constructing a new order in Europe, while Japan is determined to establish a new order in Greater East Asia, based upon the inherent character of that region.
At the present phase of the world's development, it is impossible to anticipate the immediate perfection of the world structure organized as one unit. That the various nations and races of the world should mark out several spheres for mutual existence and common prosperity is inevitable, and that Japan in East Asia and Germany and Italy in
Europe should respectively assume leadership in their assigned spheres is equally inevitable from standpoints whether historical, geographical or economic. Wherever such an inevitable trend is thwarted, to my mind, there arises confusions, such as the outbreak of the second War in Europe and the strained international relations in the nature of quasi-war now obtaining in East Asia. Such being the case, it is also natural that Japan should cooperate with Germany and Italy and Germany and Italy with Japan, all the three countries assisting one another, even to the extent of giving effect to the present pact as a military alliance, should the circumstances arise. It may be well said therefore that Japan is confronted with the greatest crisis in her history. In this very hour, we must be fully prepared to meet the crisis with firm determination and resolutely to overcome it.
Through the China Affair, now lasting more than three years, Japan has sacrificed her brave and loyal officers and men, and consumed enormous financial and other economic resources. Nevertheless, under the current emergency, she must strive to the utmost degree for the expansion of productive power and the repletion of armaments while trying to meet her vast war-time consumption. The consequence is the severe restriction on the production of consumers' goods as well as the great pressure being brought to bear upon the people's livelihood.
To all my compatriots, in this connection, I cannot but pay tribute for the fortitude with which they are bearing the hardships imposed by the emergency conditions and for the stamina they have displayed under all circumstances and in complete unison. In view of the prevailing internal situation and of the strained international relations as well, the Government formed the conviction that the best way to cope with the current crisis, be it economic or military, lay in the conclusion of the Three-Power Pact.
In the face of the grave situation described, we are endeavouring to establish a new national structure calculated to enable every Japanese subject to assist the Throne in accordance with the principles upon which our Empire was founded. It is the practical application of the emergency national policy which will give life to and animate the spirit of the new structure. After all, the new structure will not be determined by any academic formula, but will attain its fullest development in the trials and tribulations through which the nation must pass in order to overcome the serious difficulties that confront it. Ahead of Japan lies a grave problem upon the solution of which hangs the destiny of the nation. We are going straight ahead, positive in our action, thereby seeking our way out to light. Indeed, we are fully prepared to meet any and every difficulty and obstacle. Japan
is now placed in a position where her one hundred million people should stand resolutely together as one—a position, I feel, where even the union of one hundred million souls might not be sufficient.
In a period of peace and tranquillity, a nation is liable to live a life of laxity and irresponsibility in all its phases. Nevertheless, once the country is threatened with a national crisis, the entire nation will band together to surmount it. No room is left then for sectionalism, dissensions, or untrammelled discussions. Personal comforts and living must be sacrificed willingly to the common welfare, personal renown and profits must likewise be jettisoned for the sake of the Throne and the country. The true character of the Japanese nation finds expression in the unfaltering, courageous service for the cause of the State on the part of all its members in time of emergency. It devolves, on the other hand, upon the emergency Cabinet to see to it that every member of the nation finds each his or her proper place while serving the State, with heart and soul to the best of his or her ability. What the new structure aims at is the perfection of a political system founded on the principle of the unity of Sovereign and subject, under which the will and ideas of those who govern will be made known to those who are governed for the guidance of the latter; and the will and ideas of those who are governed will be communicated to those who govern. In other words, the function of government is to see that the people are enabled to find each his proper place; the duty of each subject is to serve devotedly the Throne. This constitutes the essence of our national polity, which predicates loyalty as a supreme virtue existing between Sovereign and subjects, a loyalty that is conterminous with the mutual affection of father and son. Herein lies the key to the ideals of the new national structure.
In obedience to the Imperial Command, the Government have embarked upon positive measures for surmounting the national crisis, thereby establishing a safe and sound foreign policy and the new structure for assisting the Throne within the country. The Government expose truths to the people expecting in return their devotion to and sacrifices on behalf of the State. The Government will in turn strive assiduously and guarantee to the people the minimum requirements for living and the maximum degree of honour in all relations.
Under the emergency our State will allow no one to be pampered materially; nor shall any one be permitted to go hungry. The entire nation shall be united in its aspirations and in working out the national fortunes over the seas. I earnestly desire that you will respond, heart and soul, to the call of the hour.
[Page 176 was transcribed with GPT (Codex CLI), not Claude.]