In his speech at the Indian rally in Tokyo yesterday evening, Netaji SC Bose said,“The brilliant Japanese successes off the Philippines and Taiwan are the beginning of a new phase of the war. I am certain that today we are in the third and final stage of the war. In the beginning, Japan and her allies achieved grand successes, whereas the enemy suffered heavy defeats on all fronts. The second stage, which witnessed the counter-offensive by our enemies has now terminated. Japan and her allies will seize the initiative in the third and final stage.”
Referring to the cooperation of Japanese forces with the Azad Hind Fauj and the Burmese Defence Army on the Indo-Burma front, Netaji said, “We have had ample proof that we are all ready to pay the price of freedom in blood in order to realise our just aims. We are fighting for truth and justice and since we are ready to pay the price of our freedom in blood, no power in the world can stand between us and our final victory. The Anglo-Americans know that they are not fighting for a noble cause nor do they possess spiritual strength. They hope to win this war by force of arms. Like previous wars it will prove that material strength cannot overcome the human spirit in the long run. As our enemies only trust their arms and strength, they are making futile attempts to end this war before their complete exhaustion. They are gambling with human lives whereas we are calm and fighting this war with confidence and unflinching determination. Even time is against the Anglo-Americans. However hard and long this struggle may be, it can never shake our firm determination not to lay down arms till final victory is won. We are ready for a long and hard struggle. It took the British hundreds of years to enslave us, so we cannot expect to eject them in a month. Naturally, it will take us some time to win our freedom. The liberation of India will deliver almost one-fifth of the population of the world, so full price must be paid for the emancipation of such a big country.”
Reassuring the Japanese nation, Netaji SC Bose declared, “We will follow you through thick and thin. Having promised to cooperate with you we will continue to do so no matter how difficult that may be. Your determination to stake your all to achieve final victory is proved by your brilliant successes. The enemy cannot deny your brilliant triumphs. Your unflinching determination and sacrifices have heightened the morale of other belligerents.”