April 29, To-day the Japanese people re~ force in the celebration of the 36th anniversary of their Emperor's birthday. "The Emperor Hirohito has reigned now for over ten. years, They have been years pregnant with events and developments. of the greatest importance to the! nation which in a peculiar sense, looks to him for leadership, Anxieties must naturally accrue from the efforts of a vigorous people to assert their proper place in the world's affairs. Full responsibilities have been accepted by the Japanese Empire for the direction of its own destiny in a troublous world. In the difficulties and dangers thus! boldly confronted the stability of the Throne has been at once an inspiration and an incalculable asset! to the Japanese nation, Ever since' the full ruling power was assumed by the Emperor in 1868 in complete resumption of the traditions established at the founding of the Empire by the Emperor Jinmu Tenno in 600 B.C. the rapid progress of the Japanese nation has afforded a remarkable testimony to the virtue of the monarchical idea. The suppression of the feudal system in 1871 and in 1889 the establishment of the Constitution, which combined in the Emperor's person the rights of sovereignty comprising the exercise of the whole of the executive powers with the advice and assistance of the Cabinet Ministers responsible to and appointed by him, put the finishing touch to the making of modern Japan as the world knows it, The Present Emperor, has with great dignity and a profound sense of duty so borne the Imperial burden that he has firmly ensconced himself in the affections of his subjects jand commanded their unhesitating homage.
It is not surprising therefore that} this day is set apart for remem-prance of him. At the moment Japan is in the throes of elections, on which it is suggested momentous, issues may hang. The Emperor ts outside and above politics. No} irksomeness will be felt by any of the contending parties in laying aside their electioneering activities for a, brief while to pay their reference to His Imperial Majesty. Here in Shanghai the Japanese [community with its customary enthusiasm and loyalty, is delivering} itself to the occasion. In accord, with Shanghai's pleasant sense of international amity their rejoicings will be sympathetically and cordially shared by all communities. The celebrations will lose none of their fervour because they can be associated with salute of the Spring] Festival. It is also certain that the exploits of the "Divine Wind" will again be acclaimed as Japanese, citizens take stock of themselves and their country in making their obeisance to the Emperor and sending up the appropriately pious prayers for his long life and happiness. Nor will the gracious personality, of his Empress be forgotten, Her Jexample to the women of Japan is gratefully noted by her august husband's subjects who watch with eager satisfaction the progress of three-year old heir to' the Throni his younger brother, Prince Masa-hiro and. their elder sisters, the Princesses Shigeko, Kazuko' and In the legacy of Tokugawa lyeyast, a name venerated in Japan, It is written: "There must be no slight ing of the Imperial Dignity or confusing the order of Heaven and Earth, Lord and Subject": and "Phe Empire docs not belong to the Empire, neither does it belong to tone man. The thing to be most deeply studied is how to act with Benevolence." In his relations with his people Emperor Hirohito has been sagely inspired to ensure fulfiiment of those principles. In the ast year he has seen the nation passing through anxious times, Carefully avoiding all semblance of interference with polities, he has nevertheless shown the acuteness of his solicitude for a happy outcome of national emictions. It is not forgotten that in the moment of supreme crisis in February 1936 he displayed truly Imperial courage and a self-effacement and, preserying sedulously his traditional aloof ness from polities, made no small contribution to the restoration concord by his timely intervention which brought reminder of the duty owed to his Imperial orders, His handling of the tragic situation was such as {o strengthen the gratitude and affection of his people. They also lately observe on the occasion of the anxious deliberations arising from the fall of the Hirota Cabinet, his high conception of duty kept him from his couch far into the night for several days 30 that he could be at hand to give the right word when a decision had been reached in determination of the acute political controversy then prevailing. Services Mike these transcend the functions—great and significant as they are—invested in the Imperial state by Japanese tradition. They enable the Emperor fully to justify the claim that in the study of Benevolence he hax steadfastly followed the precept commended to him and in transating that study into action he has not been wanting. In reaffirming their allegiance to him this day his subjects can rest assured that they are bowing to an Emperor who commands from the world outside a deep respect from which cordial congratulations on his auspicious birthday readily spring,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.