"It also pre-supposes that these groups will respect one another's individual characteristics, political, cultural and economic, and they will cooperate and fulfill one another's needs for their common good.
"When the present European war broke out, the Japanese Government at once declared their policy of non-involvement and made it clear, that this country did not intend to intervene in Europe, and at the same time did not want to see the war spread into East Asia.
"Naturally, Japan expects that the Western Powers will do nothing that will exert any undesirable influence on the stability of East Asia.
"Japan, while she continues her task of constructing a new order in East Asia, is paying serious attention to the developments in the European war, and to its repercussions in various quarters of East Asia, including the South Seas region, "I desire to declare that the destiny of these regions, including any development therein and any disposal thereof, is a matter of grave concern to Japan in view of her mission and responsibility as a stabilizing force in East Asia."—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.