『大東亜戦争への道』（展転社）
中村 粲
その４３ 第十一章 北支をめぐる日華関係 第２節 日華関係の好転
日華関係がある面で著しく好転した時期がありました。東京裁判でただ一人絞首刑に処せられた広田弘毅が外務大臣であった、昭和１０年１月２２日、議会演説で不脅威・不侵略の対外原則を唱えたことに始まります。内外に反響を起こした広田は同２６日の衆議院で「自分の在任中に戦争は断じてない」と断言したのでした。
蒋介石は２月１日、内外記者団に対して「広田外相の議会演説に吾人は誠意を認める。中国の過去における反日感情と日本の対華優越態度を共に是正すれば隣邦親睦の途進めることができる。我が同胞も正々堂々、理智と道義に従い一時の衝動と反日行動を抑え、信義を示したならば日本も必ず信義を以て応ずるものと信ずる」と日華親善方針を声明したのでした。
同２０日には汪精衛行政委員長が南京で、地理上、歴史上、文化上また種族上、中国と密接な関係を持つ日本との友誼増進の必要を述べ、１９２４年、神戸での孫文の日華提携演説こそ日華外交の根本であり、広田演説は中国年来の主張と一致せると述べたのでした。
中国側は対日親善の声明に留まらず、進んで排日取り締まりを具体化しました。即ち国民政府は全国の新聞通信社に排日原論の掲載禁止を命令し（２月２０日）、中央政治会議は蒋・汪連名の提議で、反日・排日貨停止案を可決しました。（同２７日）教育部は各市教育長に、政府の検定なき教科書の使用を禁ずる命令を発する（３月１５日）など排日教科書の改訂をも企てました。
日華親善の気運が高まった昭和１０年５月広田外相は閣議の了承を得て在華公使館を大使館に昇格する決定をしました。この通知を受けた汪精衛は興奮を隠し得ない面持ちで「これで両国は東亜の大道を手を取って歩けるのです」と言い、直ちに中国も昇格の措置を取りことを約したのでした。
これは単なる儀礼的なことに過ぎないではないかと思われる向きもあるでしょう。しかし、この昇格で日本に出しぬかれたと狼狽した英国は、我国に対して英国も大使館昇格を決定したので昇格発表は日貨と同時にしたい旨伝えてきたため、我国はこれを了承し、５月１７日、日華英三国は大使館昇格を同時に発表したのでした。大きな意味のあることだったことが分かります。
・その４３，第１１章２節 日本語原文： https://hassin.org/01/wp-content/uploads/Road43.pdf
・ 〃 第１１章２節 英訳文： https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/Road43E.pdf
令和７年９月１２日
「史実を世界に発信する会」 会長 茂木弘道
協力者代表：神奈川大学教授 小山和伸
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
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