TOJO BOASTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1943, Page 3

TOJO BOASTS

JAPAN READY TO MEET OFFENSIVE TALK OF “ASSISTING” CHINA. AND GRANTING INDEPENDENCE TO ENSLAVED AREAS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) .NEW YORK, June 16. “Japan is strengthening her position for sure victory,” said the Premier (General Tojo), addressing an extraordinary session of the Diet. According to the Tokio official radio, he added: “Alarmed by the rapid development of our position, Britain and America are attempting to obstruct and check us at all costs. They are increasingly showing signs of making further offensives by mobilising a massive force, but Japan has foreseen these things. The imperial forces will meet the British and American coun-ter-offensive wherever it comes and is developing new methods to defeat it. Japan is putting forth all her efforts until her adversaries are brought to submission.”

Tojo added: “It is Japan's immutable policy to free Greater East Asia permanently from Anglo-Saxon domination. Japan intends to facilitate China’s rise and is more than ever determined to assist China by all means.”

He reiterated that independence would be granted to the Philippines and Burma and added: “Independence will be granted to the Philippines this year. Japan is also resolved to exhaust all means to expel and eliminate Anglo-Saxon influences from India.”