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Imperial Rescript
(from above) (Declaration of War)
We,
by grace of heaven, Emperor of Japan, seated on the Throne of a line
unbroken for ages eternal, enjoin upon ye, Our loyal and brave subjects:
We
hereby declare War on the United States of America and the British
Empire. The men and officers of Our Army and Navy shall do their utmost
in prosecuting the war. Our public servants of various departments shall
perform faithfully and diligently their respective duties; the entire
nation with a united will shall mobilize their total strength so that
nothing will miscarry in the attainment of Our war aims.
To insure the stability of East Asia and to
contribute to world peace is the far-sighted policy which was formulated
by Our Great Illustrious Imperial Grandsire and Our Great Imperial Sire
succeeding Him, and which We lay constantly to heart. To cultivate
friendship among nations and to enjoy prosperity in common with all
nations, has always been the guiding principle of Our Empire’s foreign
policy. It has been truly unavoidable and far from Our wishes that Our
Empire has been brought to cross swords with America and Britain. More
than four years have passed since China, failing to comprehend the true
intentions of Our Empire, and recklessly courting trouble, disturbed the
peace of East Asia and compelled Our Empire to take up arms. Although
there has been reestablished the National Government of China, with
which Japan had effected neighborly intercourse and cooperation, the
regime which has survived in Chungking, relying upon American and
British protection, still continues its fratricidal opposition. Eager
for the realization of their inordinate ambition to dominate the Orient,
both America and Britain, giving support to the Chungking regime, have
aggravated the disturbances in East Asia. Moreover these two Powers,
inducing other countries to follow suit, increased military preparations
on all sides of Our Empire to challenge Us. They have obstructed by
every means Our peaceful commerce and finally resorted to a direct
severance of economic relations, menacing gravely the existence of Our
Empire. Patiently have We waited and long have We endured, in the hope
that Our government might retrieve the situation in peace. But Our
adversaries, showing not the least spirit of conciliation, have unduly
delayed a settlement; and in the meantime they have intensified the
economic and political pressure to compel thereby Our Empire to
submission. This trend of affairs, would, if left unchecked, not only
nullify Our Empire’s efforts of many years for the sake of the
stabilization of East Asia, but also endanger the very existence of Our
nation. The situation being such as it is, Our Empire, for its existence
and self-defense has no other recourse but to appeal to arms and to
crush every obstacle in its path.
The hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors guarding Us from above, We rely upon the loyalty and courage of Our subjects in Our confident expectation that the task bequeathed by Our forefathers will be carried forward and that the sources of evil will be speedily eradicated and an enduring peace immutably established in East Asia, preserving thereby the glory of Our Empire. (Released by the Board of Information, December 8, 1941.) |