On the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Imperial Diet recently, His Majesty the Emperor was pleased to grant the most gracious Imperial Message; I have been deeply moved and filled with trepidation. In humble obedience to the Imperial Wishes, I intend together with you, gentlemen, to devote all my power to the performance of the duties and attain the object of the war, thereby setting the mind of His Majesty at rest.
It is indeed a matter for congratulation that, since the beginning of the War of Greater East Asia, the Imperial forces have achieved brilliant victories wherever they went, carrying everything before them, and have already destroyed, in a short space of time, most of the enemy's strategic points in Greater East Asia. Pressure upon the Chungking régime, too, has been increasingly strengthened, while our defence in the North is secure and adamantine. The power and prestige of our Empire is thus being enhanced both at home and abroad. This is solely attributable to the august virtue of His Majesty and for this we cannot but be profoundly impressed. To the loyal and brave officers and men of the Imperial Army and Navy, who are winning these signal victories over a wide area by fighting with courage and vigour, overcoming all adverse elements, I wish to express my profound appreciation of and pay tribute to their fortitude and accomplishments. I wish also to tender my sincere respect to the spirits of those who have died in defence of the country, and extend my deep sympathy to their families as well as to the wounded officers and men.
What is essential in the War of Greater East Asia, which our Empire is now prosecuting, is to secure strategic bases in Greater East Asia and to bring the regions with important resources under our control, thereby augmenting our fighting strength and, in close cooperation with Germany and Italy, to extend increasingly vigorous
military operations and to fight through until the United States and the British Empire are brought to their knees. The United States and the British Empire are, however, the countries which boast of their wealth and power as the greatest in the world, having for many years consolidated the foundation for their domination of the world. Even though they have suffered overwhelming defeats in the opening of the war, it is not difficult to imagine that they will stubbornly resist us and try to turn the tide of the war. We must, therefore, be prepared for difficulties of various sorts which may arise in the future and that the present war will become a protracted one. Accordingly, this war remains indeed to be fought hereafter. In order to fulfill the purpose of the war, the whole nation must persevere in whatever difficulties and tribulations that may confront them with a firm conviction of ultimate victory and thus serve the country. It is this very spirit of industry, of thrift, of reverence for valour, and of sacrifice for the State that is absolutely indispensable not only for overcoming the present crisis but also for assuring the future progress and prosperity of our Empire.
Japan is now vigorously proceeding with the great task of establishing the sphere of common prosperity of Greater East Asia, while prosecuting military operations on a most extensive and grand scale with the total strength of the nation. The basic policy of establishing the Greater East Asian Co-prosperity Sphere has its origin in the great ideal which guided the foundation of our Empire, its aim being to enable each country and people in that part of the world to have its proper place and demonstrate its inherent character and to secure thereby an order of co-existence and co-prosperity based on moral principles with Japan as its nucleus. Its establishment is to extend over a vast area and is to be realized through our cooperation with different peoples. The regions which will newly participate in this work of construction are those which, though abounding in various resources, have had the progress of their civilization greatly impeded due to the ruthless exploitation of the United States and Great Britain for the past hundred years.
By including these regions, our Empire intends to establish a lasting peace in Greater East Asia with a new conception which will mark a new epoch in the annals of mankind and to proceed to construct a new world order in conjunction with our Allies and friendly Powers in Europe. This is truly an unprecedentedly grand undertaking,
and its success is a condition prerequisite to leading our successes in armed combat to ultimate victory.
It is the intention of the Government that, in this construction, the areas essential for the defence of Greater East Asia shall be controlled and dealt with by Japan herself; with regard to other regions, appropriate measures will be taken as the war situation develops, in accordance with the traditions, cultures and other circumstances of their respective peoples.
The Imperial Army and Navy forces have already occupied Hongkong, secured the greater part of the Philippines, brought nearly all of the Malay Peninsula under their control and recently occupied strategic points of the Netherlands East Indies. Of these regions, Hongkong and the Malay Peninsula have for many years been the British possessions serving as bases for disturbing the peace of East Asia. Therefore, Japan not only will eradicate thoroughly the sources of such evil but will even convert these places into bulwarks for the defence of Greater East Asia. As regards the Philippines, if the peoples of those islands will hereafter understand the real intentions of Japan and offer to cooperate with us as one of the partners for the establishment of the Greater East Asian Co-prosperity Sphere, Japan will gladly enable them to enjoy the honour of independence. As for Burma, what Japan contemplates is not different from that relating to the Philippines.
With respect to the Netherlands East Indies and Australia, if they continue as at present their attitude of resisting Japan, we will show no mercy in crushing them. But, if their peoples come to understand Japan's intentions and express willingness to cooperate with us, we will not hesitate to extend them our assistance, with full understanding, for the benefit of their welfare and progress.
It is really regrettable that the Chungking régime is still continuing its meaningless resistance against us. Japan will thoroughly destroy that régime. I am firmly convinced, however, that it is high time that all of the four hundred millions of the Chinese people saw the great change in the world situation in its true light and joined in the glorious task of constructing the sphere of common prosperity in Greater East Asia by discarding once for all their time-old dependence upon the United States and Great Britain.
It is to be sincerely felicitated that the peoples of Manchoukuo, China under the Nanking Government, and Thailand, in unity with
us, are putting forth ceaseless efforts for the construction of the Greater East Asian Co-prosperity Sphere and that French Indo-China also is cooperating with us to the same end.
We are profoundly gratified that our Allies, especially Germany and Italy, are steadily winning victories in common with our Empire for the establishment of a new world order. We intend to strengthen further our solidarity with these allied Powers in military, diplomatic, economic and various other phases and go forth toward the attainment of the common purpose.
The constructive undertaking contemplated by our Empire will, in the early stages of war, be commenced under military administration, beginning with those which are essential for the prosecution of the war. Meanwhile preparations will be made for future construction on a large scale, and as the defence and maintenance of peace and order are firmly secured, the scope of civilian participation will be extended. In view of the fact that our plan of Greater East Asian construction is one that will determine the fortunes of the Empire for generations to come, it is necessary to perfect preparations to the fullest possible extent. The Government intend, therefore, to leave nothing to be desired in the formulation and execution of the plan, by mobilizing all the best minds and talents in Government and civilian circles and by securing their whole-hearted cooperation.
Considering such circumstances as I have stated, what is urgent for our country today is to devote our total strength to the purpose of further exploiting successes in armed combat, so as to bring the enemies to their knees, and, at the same time, to accelerate the strengthening of our power to prosecute the war, thereby ensuring our position for winning ultimate victory. It is the firm belief of the Government that various measures should also be concentrated on this purpose.
Consequently, the Government are desirous of establishing programmes in all branches of administration necessary for the war and of executing them speedily. For the purpose of maintaining and augmenting wartime productive capacity, the Government intend to concentrate, on priority basis, materials, labour, electric power, funds, etc. on superior and urgent enterprises, thereby effecting the maximum utilization of the existing equipment and, at the same time, to pay special attention to the expansion of production of important national
defence industries. They also intend to leave no room for improvement in perfecting the wartime food policy in order to ensure the people's livelihood. In view of the fact that the most important problem at present is not an insufficiency of resources but rather the question of perfecting communication and transportation facilities, the Government desire to improve the means of communication and transportation by exerting special efforts to the construction of vessels.
Since the opening of the war, the scope of activities of our people has notably expanded with their responsibilities having steadily grown in importance. The improvement of the qualities of the people and an increase of population have accordingly become essential, not only for the prosecution of the war but also for the completion of various constructive enterprises. To this end, the Government intend to put forth utmost efforts for the renovation and reinvigoration of education in general and for the fundamental readjustment of the institutions and systems for people's health and medical treatment.
The Government have submitted the budgetary and legislative measures in accordance with what I have stated. I earnestly hope that you will speedily give your consent to them. In conclusion, I wish to express our deep appreciation of good-will shown to our country by our Allies and friendly Powers. I also wish to pay respect from the bottom of my heart to the genuine sentiment of patriotism demonstrated by all members of the nation, who, in a hearty cooperation with one another, are rendering their service to the State in their respective functions.