“May Have to Exterminate Chinese”

Northern Advocate, 23 January 1939, Page 7

“May Have to Exterminate Chinese”

-JAPANESE PREMIER

General Itagaki, the War Minister, told the Diet that the territory Japan had so far occupied in China was twice the area of the Japanese Empire. He estimated that there had been 2,000,000 Chinese casualties since the outbreak of the war, of which over 800.000 were dead. There had been 51.000 Japanese killed. Immutable Policy.

The Prime Minister, Baron Hiranuma, in reopening the session of the Upper House, said the situation confronting Japan was graver than ever. He urged the fulfilment of the high purpose for which Japanese troops had died in China, and reaffirmed ( the Cabinet’s pledge to follow its immutable policy in China and its determination to achieve its purpose at all costs. •

No lasting peace would be possible unless Japan, Manchukuo and China were speedily united for the realisation, through collaboration, of the new birth of China.

Baron Hiranuma reiterated his reference to the Emperor Meiji’s rule of the “Divine way” for Japan. He hoped the Chinese would roali'se this policy of Japan, thus enabling them to co-operate. - Co-operate or Die. i “If they fail to understand,” said the Prime Minister, “we shall have no alternative hut to exterminate them.” He said tne elimination of Communism was absolutely essential. He paid a tribute to the Wholehearted support of Germany and Italy throughout the whole of the Sino-Japanese conflict, saying: “Our friendship with them is growing more cordial.” He asserted that the Japanese were not opposing needlessly the activities of other Powers. .