Communique of the Japanese military administration

Title

Language

English

Source

The City Gazette II (4) February 16, 1943

Year

1943

Subject

Philippines--History--20th century

Philippines--Social conditions--20th century

Philippines--Politics and government--20th century

Japan--Relations--Philippines

Philippines--Relations--Japan

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

"The object of the War of Greater East Asia lies indeed in speedily stabilizing Greater East Asia and constructing a new order on the basis of ethical principles and thus in bringing about real world peace, in cooperation with our allies who share the same purpose with us." Premier Tozyo was gratified that the southern areas are already whole-heartedly cooperating in the new construction. Their inhabitants are entering a happy reassuring life hitherto unknown to them, and Japan is"-steadily producing concrete results in making their _ lands and life peaceful. THREE-POINT CARDINAL PROGRAM FOR EARLY INDEPENDENCE T HE Director General of the Japanese Military Administration, reaffirmed Japan's basic policy of granting independence to the Philippines, in a communique read before a group of Filipino leaders at the Manila Hotel on January 28, and presented a three-point cardinal program for the attainment of Philippine fredom at the earliest possible time. The Director General emphasized that in order that independence can be granted, Filipinos should strive, firstly, to eradicate all entanglements and connections with the past regime; secondly, to initiate ways and means of bringing about economic self-sufficiency; and thirdly, to work for the speedy reorientation of the people both spiritually and materially. He affirmed that the question of when independence is to be granted is now up to the Filipino themselves, and that if they "desire complete independence in the shortest possible time, it behooves them to demonstrate by tangible evidences a more intensified degree of cooperative attitude." Filipino leaders at the gathering received the pro'nouncement with great joy. They marched out of the hall de~rmined to bear the heavy responsibility placed COMMUNIQUE OF THE JAPANESE MILITARY .ADMINISTRATION PREMIER General Hideki Tozyo, in his address before lhe Slst session of the Imperial Diet, now convened, made the following solemn and irrevocable statement concerning the future political status of Burma, the Philippines and India. On Burma1. In view of the magnificient and tangible evidence of sincere and whole-hearted cooperation rendered by the entire population of Burma acting in complete unison under the inspiring leadership of Dr. U Ba Maung, Burma will be granted independence not later than the end of this year. On the Philippines1. Substantial progress is being made in the degree of cooperation rendered to the Japanese Empire by the He paid tribute to the development of peace and order in Burma under the leadership of U Ba Maung, and promised: "Our Empire not later than :fue end of this year intends to recognize the creation of Burma State from the areas now under the jurisdiction of the present administrative organ." Repeats P. I. Stand Premier Tozyo reiterated last year's declaration that Japan is willing to accord the Philippine independence "in the shortest possible time" if the Filipinos cooperate with Japan in the establishment of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. on their shoulders by the Director General when he said: "It is my fervent wish that through your concerted efforts the cherished ambitions of the Filipino people for centuries will materialize i:n your own generation through your own efforts, and that the history of Philippine independence will be written down for posterity by you gentlemen present here." About 30 ranking Filipino officials and leaders, headed by Chairman Jorge B. Vargas of ~e Executive Commission, were invited to the Manila Hotel to hear the Director General's communique. Among them were members of the Executive Commission and of the Council of State, and directors of the KALIBAPI. All the ranking officials of the Military Administration also attended. The ceremony opened at 6: 34 p. m. with the reading of the communique by the Director General, followed by it~ translation into English. Chairman Jorge B. Vargas responded, urging all Filipinos present to drink a toast in appreciation of the assurances made by the Director General. people of the Philippines as well as in the r~storation of internal peace and security. Under these circumstances and on condition that further tangible evidence of cooperation is actively demonstrated it is contemplated to put into effect the statement made previously on the question of Philippine Independence in the shortest possible time. On India1. Positive and wholehearted support will be granted to the Indian Independence Movem:ent regardless of whether such movement is carried on inside or outside; of India pr9per. Years of Oppression Thus,,, in accordance with the -present official .pro .. nouncement of the lm,perial Japanese Government, the [-100] independence of Burma is to be uncontestably an accomplished fact by the end of the present year. With this formal recognition of her independence; Burma will be freed, from her long years of oppression and enslavement under the British and, with the powerful support of the Japanese Empire, she will proudly assume her rightful role as an independent and worthy member of the Co-Prosperity Sphere of Oriental peoples. This glorious fulfillment of Burma's national ambition is indeed a matter of rejoicing for all the peoples of Asia. That the independence of Burma has become a realized fact at such an early date is attributable to the following reasons. In the first place, it is none other than the practical manifestation of the sincerity and good faith of the Japanese Empire in its avowed objective of I?rosecuting the War of Greater East Asia for the purpose of liberating all oppressed Oriental peoples and enabling them to assume their proper role and place under the sun and establish among themselves a sphere of permanent peace and lasting prosperity. The second fundamental reason for the rapid attaintment by Burma of a status of independence is the intensity and sincerity of the cooperation rendered by the entire population of Burma, which, without one single exception, has consistently shown unqualified and unconditional cooperation to the Japanese Empire ever since the very first days of hostilities in that region. The people of Burma, from the very beginning, rendered superlative and ardent cooperation with the Imperial Japanes~ Forces in effectively eliminating all vestiges · of ·British and Chunking forces from that section of the battle front and subsequently, when the Military Administration was set up in that country,. every individual, without a single exceptfon took an active and progressive part in the task of rehabilitating Burma for the Burmese. There was not a single recalcitrant element opposing this work of reconstruction and there has never existed in Burma any lukewarm or half-hearted supporter of the New Regime and there was obtained as a result, complete unity and concerted effort among all elements of society. P. I. Stand Clarified As to the important question of Philippine independence, the policy of the Imperial Japanese Government as formally announced on the present occasion, further clarifies and emphatically reaffirms the original statement made by the Imperial Japanese Government at the outbreak of the present war. Deep significance must be properly placed on the fact that this statement concerning the Independence of the Philippines is being issued simultaneously with the declaration of the independence of Burma. Concerning the good faith and integrity of Japan, it must be borne in mind that the Japanese Empire is ruled and governed by the August Virtues of His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan. Japan is a country of faith and honor; it is the land of Bushido; and her proud history conclusively proves that she has fulfilled with sincerity and good faith ~ery obligation and pledge she has entered into or made. This is in distinct contrast to the action of the Americans with respect to their promise to the Filipinos during the early days of the Malolos Republic or the similar action of the British with respect to their promises made to India during the first World War. It is contrary to \the Japanese code of honor to break pledges once made or to treat international commitments as scraps of paper and a fundamental and sharp distinction should be made between the hypocritical action of the Anglo-American powers on the one hand and the sincerity and good faith of Japan on the other. The people of the Philippines will do well to reflect seriously on their experience over the past one year of the Japane.:;e Military Administration. We are confident that they will come to a true understanding and evaluation of the integrity and honor of the Japanese nation and the sincerity of our intentions toward the Philippines. It is an established and immutable fact that the Philippines is to be granted independence on the condition that all the people of these Islands manifest further tangible proof of closer cooperation and sincere collabor(iltion with the Japanese Empire. Up to Filipinos The only question that remains is that of the exact time of recognition of that independence. This in turn is most definitely: a problem which is placed squarely with the Filipinos themselves and one which must be solved thru their own efforts. Categorically speaking, if the Filipinos desire complete independence in the shortest possible time, it behooves them to demonstrate by tangible evidence a more intensified degree of cooperative attitude. It is a fact that outside of the few bands of recalcitrant elements which continue to exist in outlying provinces, most of the Filipinos are happily collaborating with the Japanese Military Administration in building up the New Philippines for the Filipinos. Henceforth it must ind~ed be a matter of deep chagrin to all loyal Filipinos. that the independence of the Philippines is being realized at a later date than the independence of Burma whose civil administration was inaugurated almost four months after that of the J>hilippines. To us of the Imperial Japanese Forces stationed here in the Philippines, it is also a matter of. regret and disappointment. It is therefore my keen desire and sincere entreaty to every Filipino who wants to see his country win independence in the shortest possible time, that he pay particular attention to carrying out th~ following cardinal program. [ 101] Firstly. Eradicate from among your midst of 18 million Filipinos all entanglements and connections with the past regime. Unify and harmonize your efforst into one compact body and demonstrate to the best of your ability to cooperate sincerely and actively with the Japanese Military Administration. Above all else, take vigorous and forceful measures on your own initiative to eradicate the remnants of Americans and bandits from this country thereby bringing about complete peace and security throughout the length and breadth of the land. Economic Rehab~litation Secondly. NQt only work for the economic rehabilitation of the 'country in close cooperation with the Japanese Military Administration but initiate, thru your own will and efforts, effective ways and means of bringing about the much needed economic self-sufficiency of the Philippines through the rapid reconstruction and renovation of the economic structure of this land. A WAR FOR LIBERATION T OMOKAZU Hori, spokesman of the Cabinet Board of Information, commenting on Premier General Hideki Tozyo's Diet spee~h in which he promised Burma and the Philippines their independence in return for their wholehearted cooperation with Japan, on January 29, emphasized that Japan is demonstrating with actual deeds the fact that the War of Greater East Asia is a war for the liberation of the East Asiatic peoples from Anglo-American imperialistic domination. Contrasted to Japan's actions are the empty AngloAmerican promises "which at best are only sugarcoated to attract and deceive other peoples." The spokesman said in part: "To enable all the nations, each to have its own place and all the people to enjoy a life of peace and prosperity has been the fundamental principle guiding the Empire since its foundation and it is in pursl,Jance of this principle that we are now fighting to sweep clean from Greater East Asia the evil and predatory forces of the United States and Britain. "It is indeed encouraging to note that in the Philippines there is being shown a great deal of sincere cooperation under its new leader, Chief Civil Administrator Jorge B. Vargas, and that pea<:e and order are steadily being improved. I sincerely expect that the people of the Philippines will further strengthen their cooperation with our country and thus consummate at the earliest possible opportunity the independence of their land. Thirdly. Work for the speedy reorientation of your people both spiritually and intellectually, thereby regaining your original oriental souls and with this as the foundation, drastically reorganize the social structure of the Philippines in strict accordance with the ideals and standards of Oriental peoples. The above mentioned three-point program is clearly set before you for active fulfillment. The basic policy of the Japanese nation with regard to your independence is now unmistakable and unequivocal. The problem is now definitely up to the people of the Philippines. Every single individual in the Philippines is called upon today to come to a stronger and clearer conception of the real aims and objectives of Japan in prosecuting the War of Greater East Asia and with renewed vigor and enthusiasm demonstrate tangibly his whole-hearted cooperation with Japan in establishing the Co-Prosperity Sphere of Oriental peoples. It is fervently hoped that you will, by so doing, win for yourselves the honor of independence in the shortest possible time. January 28, 18th year of Sowa. "Our reason for calling this war 'a war of construction' springs from the fact that wherever this principle prevails, conditions of peace, progress and coprosperity are established. "On January 21, last year, Prime Minister Tozyo declared before the Diet: 'As regards the Philippines, if the people of those islands 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 Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, Japan will gladly enable them to enjoy the honor of independence. As for Burma what Japan contemplates is not different from that relating to the Philippines.' "At that very moment Japan's military operations·-in the Philippines and in Burma were at the height of their intensity and the Prime Minister's declaration, therefore, was especially significant. "When the enemy forces were wiped out from Burma and the Burmese people had fully grasped the real intentions of Japan toward them our Prime Minister declared once more before the Diet on May 25, last: 'It is extremely encouraging that in Burma, which has been cleansed by the valiant advance of the Imperial forces, the Burmese people throughout the land have arisen in unison under the peaceful guidance, based on justice, of the Imperial forces, accelerating the trend toward their glorious independence. The advance bases of the British forces for the defence of India have all been occupied by the Imperial forces, presentnig a golden opportunity for the Indian people to rise and realize their age-long aspiration for independence.'"

pages

100-102

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