SDHF Newsletter No.438 The Road to the Greater East Asian War No. 43 Ch.11-2

THE ROAD TO THE GREATER EAST ASIAN WAR
Nakamura Akira, Dokkyo University Professor Emeritus
(English Translation: Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact)
Part 43, Chapter 11: Japan-China Relations on Northen China -2

September 12, 2025

There was a time when some aspects of the Japan-China relationship improved markedly. Credit for that development belongs to Hirota Koki, the one and only civil servant set to the gallows by IMTFE.

On January 22, 1935, Foreign Minister Hirota Kōki delivered an address before the Diet in which he announced that Japan’s foreign policy would “embody the principles of non-aggression and non-menace.” The Created a stir both at home and abroad. On January 26, Hirota spoke again at the Loer House of the Diet: “I am confident that there will be no war while I am in office.”

At a press conference on February 1, Chiang Kai-shek announced his guidelines for improving relations between China and Japan: “I sense the sincerity in Foreign Minister Hirota’s addresses to the Diet. If we can dispel our past hostility toward Japan, and temper Japan’s supercilious attitude toward China, I believe we can become good neighbors. If my compatriots behave fairly, intelligently, and ethnically – if we suppress their baser impulses and refrain from any anti-Japanese activity, I am certain that the Japanese will respond by acting in good faith.

On February 22 in Nanjing, Wang Jingwei, president of the Executive Yuan, spoke of the need to promote friendship with Japan because if its close geographic, historical, and ethnic connections with China. He added that speech delivered by Sun Yat-sen in Kobe in 1924, which advocated a partnership between China and Japan (Pan-Asianism) formed the foundation for diplomacy between the two nations, and Hirota’s speeches were consistent with long established Chinese priorities.

The Chinese did not stop with declaration. Without prompting, they took steps toward eradicating anti-Japanese activity. On February 20 the Nationalist government ordered all newspapers and other media outlets in China to cease carrying anti-Japanese editorials. The Nationalist government made a genuine effort to emend anti-Japanese account in textbooks. On March 15, the Ministry of Education issued instructions to all municipal directors of education, prohibiting the, from using textbooks not approved by the government.

In may 1935, when fortunes of the Japan-China friendship were at an all-time high, Foreign Minister Hirota, having obtained Cabinet approval, made the decision to upgrade the Japanese legation to embassy status. When Wang Jingwei received a notification of this development, he was overjoyed: “Now the two nations will be able to walk hand in hand down the great path of East Asia.” He then immediately promise to initiate a similar improvement on the Chinese side.

Apparently, when the UK, US, and Germany learned about Japan’s decision, they felt that they had been blindsided. Uk insisted that their elevation be announced at the same time as Japan’s. The Japanese agreed, and on My 17, 1935 Japan, China, and UK issued a simultaneous announcement.

URL: https://www.sdh-fact.com/book-article/2365
PDF: https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/Road43E.pdf

Moteki Hiromichi, Chairman
Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact