At a Press conference, Rashtrapati SC Bose, referring to the brilliant Japanese victories off the Philippines stated, “A few days ago I issued a statement on the battles off Formosa,and predicted that the initiative would no longer rest with the enemy. I contended that during the fluctuations in the fortunes of war, one naturally experiences a certain amount of doubt. Now our allies have gained the upper hard. The course of the war in Europe and the successes of the German forces has an intimate bearing upon the general situation in the Far East. The turn of events in Europe also foreshadows an enormous change. I personally believe that the second phase of the war is about to finish, and that the third and final phase will develop in favour of the Axis. Another reason for the importance of the Philippines battle is its close bearing upon our war of India’s liberation. It will reduce American manpower and shake their morale.” Concluding, Netaji pointed out that the present situation will greatly help to widen the gulf of differences between the Anglo-Americans and the Russians.
Netaji stressed that the Pacific situation and the world developments revealed that the initiative had passed into the hands of the Axis and that the third phase of this war would begin with their offensive. He said that the second stage of the war, which witnessed the counter-offensive of the enemy, had almost reached its end. Netaji said that the Japanese success in the Pacific would inevitably help the operations of the Indian National Army on the Indo-Burma front.
Referring to the heroic struggle of the Germans in Europe, Netaji Bose praised their national spirit and determination, and stressed that it would be impossible to defeat the Germans because the entire nation had risen against their enemies, and exposed the falsity of Anglo-American propaganda which was clamouring that after the cessation of hostilities in Europe, Allied troops would be concentrated in the Pacific. Netaji declared, “This is propaganda nonsense because they would have to maintain their full pressure against Germany even if she were defeated. The Anglo-Americans must preserve their full military strength in Europe, in view of the fact that the relations between them and the Soviet Union are very strained. They also feared lest the Bolsheviks should spread their influence throughout the Continent.” Netaji was certain that the future developments would bring defeat to the Anglo-Americans.
Referring to the recent enemy counter-offensive and aggression, Netaji said that the Anglo-Americans anticipated a serious shortage and exhaustion of their manpower if the war was prolonged, and, therefore, they were anxious to end the war as soon as possible. He compared the present war with the struggle between spiritualism and materialism, and expressed his faith in the force of the spirit which would, hefelt confident, be finally victorious. Netaji declared that the primary aim of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind was to mobilise the material and spiritual resources of the Indians in East Asia, and utilise the experiences gained during the past operations in preparation for future offensive. Netaji laid stress on the fact that the morale of the Indian soldiers, who were anxious to continue their fight, was high.
Referring to the internal conditions of India, he stated that the Indians were highly delighted at the defeat of the enemy off the Philippines and Taiwan, which raised their hopes for the ultimate destruction of the British.