794.00/177: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 29—2:40 p.m.]
518. Our 507, June 28, 5 p.m.81
- 1.
- It is of interest to note that this morning’s papers state that an emergency meeting of the Four Ministers’ Conference was called yesterday afternoon to discuss the proposed declaration of Japan’s policy, that opposition developed among the Ministers to the issuance of such a declaration at this time, and that it was decided that instead of issuing an official declaration of policy the Minister for Foreign Affairs should deliver a radio address this afternoon on the general subject of “Japan’s foreign policy in the present situation.”
- 2.
- The text of the radio address as given out today by the Foreign
Office is as follows:
“International situation and Japan’s position. Japan’s ideal since foundation of the Empire has been that all nations should be enabled to find their proper places in world. Our foreign policy has also been based upon this ideal, for which we have not hesitated at times even to fight by staking our national existence. What entire mankind longs for is firm establishment of world peace. But it goes without saying that peace can never endure unless it is a peace in which all nations enjoy their proper places. Unfortunately, however, establishment of world peace in this sense is difficult of speedy realization at present stage of human progress. In order to realize such a great deal, therefore, it seems to be a most natural step that peoples who are closely related with each other geographically, racially, culturally, and economically should first form a sphere of their own for co-existence and co-prosperity and establish peace and order within that sphere, and at same time secure a relationship of common existence and prosperity with other spheres. The cause of strife which mankind has hitherto experienced lies generally in the failure to give due consideration to the necessity of some such natural and constructive world order and to remedy old irrationalities and injustices. The war in Europe brings home the truth of this with special emphasis. Therefore, in order to establish international peace on a permanent foundation every effort must be exerted for rectification of blunders that have been committed in this regard. It is in this spirit that Japan is now engaged in the task of establishing a new order in East Asia. It is extremely regrettable, therefore, that there should be those who not only fail to understand Japan’s great undertaking based upon this fundamental principle, but on the contrary, obstruct establishment of peace in East Asia by supporting regime of Chiang Kai-shek. We have urged them to reconsider such an attitude in past, and now we intend further to urge their serious reflection. We are determined to leave no stone unturned in order to eradicate all activities for assisting Chiang Kai-shek. Sometimes there are those who would disapprove a change in the status quo by force of arms regardless of the reasons therefor. It is for the purpose of bringing about a just and permanent peace that Japan has been fighting in China for the past 3 years. Her employment of armed force is an act looking beyond the immediate present. The sword she has drawn is intended to be nothing other than a life-giving sword that destroys evil and makes justice manifest. Countries of East Asia and regions of the South Seas are geographically, historically, racially, and economically very closely related to each other. They are destined to help each other and minister to one another’s needs for their common well-being and prosperity, and to promote peace and progress in their regions. Uniting of all these regions under a single sphere on the basis of common existence and insuring thereby the stability of that sphere is, I think, a natural conclusion. The idea to establish first a righteous peace in each of the various regions and then establish collectively a just peace for the whole world has long existed also in Europe and America. This system presupposes the existence of a stabilizing force in each region, with which as a center the peoples within that region are to [Page 94] secure their co-existence and co-prosperity and as well the stability of their sphere. It also presupposes that these groups will respect another’s individual characteristics, political, cultural, and economic, and they will cooperate and fulfill one another’s needs for their common good. When the present European war broke out, the Japanese Government at once declared their policy [of] non-involvement and made it clear that this country did not intend to intervene in Europe and at the same time did not want to see the war spread into East Asia. Quite naturally Japan expects that Eastern [Western]82 powers will do nothing that will exert any undesirable influence upon the stability of East Asia. Japan, while carrying on vigorously her task of constructing a new order in East Asia, is paying serious attention to developments in the European war and to its repercussions in the various quarters of East Asia, including the South Seas region. I desire to declare that the destiny of these regions in any development therein, and any disposal thereof, is a matter for grave concern to Japan in view of her mission and responsibility as the stabilizing force in East Asia.”