“NO RETREAT”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20622, 25 November 1941, Page 5

“NO RETREAT”

JAPANESE BOAST IMMUTABLE AIM MUST GO FORWARD APPEAL TO NATION (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 25, 9 a.m.) TOKIO, Nov. 24. The Prime Minister of Japan. General Tojo, addressing 00 provincial governors, said: “There is no retreat from Japan’s immutable policies.” He added: “Japan is confronting an unprecedented crisis, but is confident that she will surmount all obstacles.” He said that the military and civilian authorities had collaborated resolutely. He did not mention the Washington negotiations. Mr. Kiwao Okumura, vice-president of the Japanese Information Board, in a national broadcast from Tokio yesterday, said: “The Japanese people have no other choice but to charge forward on their way, and if we knock our head against a stone wall we must break through it. History is now sounding a warning note that a serious situation is about to beiall us.” Repeating the Prime Minister’s statement that Japan was now at the cross-roads and must rise or fall, he continued: "The Government has made a grim determination to breast all difficulties. In this effort it is abandoning secrecy and taking the people into its confidence to win their whole-hearted support. It is the duly of the Information Board to let you know what powerful strides General Tojo and his Cabinet are making and to inflame the hearts of the people, which are now reaching ignition point, so that their patriotism will burst into a furious flame and the sacred, everlasting fire which has been burning for the past 2GOO years will be kept burning in all its glory.”