(Taken
from The Mainichi, a Japanese newspaper)
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
― To insure
the stability of
― 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 now been brought to cross swords with
More
than four years have passed since
Eager
for the realization of their inordinate ambition to dominate the Orient, both
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
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
(Imperial Sign Manual)
(Imperial Seal)
December 8, the 16th Year of Showa.