[Enclosure 2]
Translation of Mr. Hirota, Minister for Foreign Affairs’ Instruction to
the Japanese Minister in China
1. In relation to the Chinese question Japan had to differ with other
Powers in her views and standpoint and was obliged to withdraw from the
League of Nations. Thereupon Japan has come to feel the necessity of
exercising her best efforts to carry out her mission in Eastern Asia
regardless of the attitude or opinion of other Powers.
Needless to say Japan will take the most conciliatory attitude toward all
Powers and will earnestly seek friendship with them by coordinating
interests. However, as to the maintenance of peace and order in Eastern
Asia the recent developments of affairs have brought about a situation
in which Japan will have to undertake it upon her own responsibility and
even single-handedly. Japan is determined to fulfill this mission.
2. In order to fulfill that mission Japan desires to share with China the
responsibility of maintaining peace in Eastern Asia. Japan [Page 230] therefore most earnestly desires that
the integrity, unification and order of China should be secured. And
that this can only be attained through the awakening and endeavors on
the part of China herself has been clearly demonstrated by history. From
this point of view Japan will always endeavor to defeat all of China’s
maneuvers to utilize foreign Powers through her traditional policy of
“using barbarians to control barbarians”, as well as of anti-Japanese
movements.
3. In view of the situation prevailing after the Manchurian and Shanghai
affairs, if foreign Powers are to take a joint action vis-a-vis China,
no matter what form it may take, financial, technical, or otherwise, it
will surely come to bear a political significance and the result will be
to introduce unfortunate impediments to the awakening and integrity of
China, if not directly entailing the international control of China, her
partition or the establishment of spheres of influence. Japan has to
oppose such joint action in principle.
4. It goes without saying that all Powers are free to negotiate with
China separately from the economic and commercial points of view, even
if their actions should become of practical aid to China, so long as
they do not militate against the maintenance of peace and order in
Eastern Asia. If, however, these actions were of a nature to prejudice
peace and order in the Far East, for instance, the supply of military
aeroplanes, the establishment of aerodromes, the supply of military
advisers or political loans, Japan will have to oppose them.
5. From the points of view above stated we think our guiding principle
should be generally to defeat foreign activities in China at present,
not only those of a joint nature but those conducted individually, in
view of the fact that China is still trying to tie Japan’s hands through
using the influence of foreign Powers.
