I do not want to criticize them today, because we are united at present in a common purpose. We are all determined to help our armed forces. This can be done only in two ways, by donating blood and by helping the families of the soldiers who have lost their lives. It is also important for the people to know that for the present we have done away with our differences and that we shall not talk about them. We shall only discuss how to strengthen the country and not to do anything which might be opposed to our interests. They sometimes utter something very insignificant but it is misinterpreted and misused in the international field. Although we never for a moment though of waging a war, there was some talk of war in this country. This gave an excuse to others to say that we had decided to go to war. This is the time when everyone must realize what is in his country’s interest and adhere to it firmly.
I am grateful to you for your assurances that you are with me. I want to assure you that the government and the people are one. The Government will do its best to strengthen the people because that is our goal. We know that democracy cannot be firm if there is a gulf separating the government form the people. A weak democracy means a weak people, and if the people are weak, the army, however strong, cannot by itself give strength to the nation. We must bear all this in mind.
Today our good wishes and prayers are with those brave officers and soldiers who are sacrificing their lives on the front. It is a thing of glory if a citizen lays down his life to protect the country. It is a great opportunity to have this privilege. We all must decide what sacrifices we have to make in the various fields. I hope the students will seriously consider what help they can give at this time of crisis.
The students should also consider what useful changes they can make in the city and the university at the present moment. I hope you all are aware that during the years of world war II there were shortages of everything in England. There were difficulties of all sorts. Yet the people there reformed their educational system, their health organization and other things. Now that we are all united, we have the opportunity to give a shape to the nation, to improve the health of the people and the sanitary conditions.
Let us take the pledge that we shall walk shoulder to shoulder, that we shall not fear any threats, and that we reject all pressures. This does not mean that we are averse to receiving advice from others. We always certainly listen to what others way. We will seriously consider their suggestions. But when we find that they are not in our interest we shall refuse to accept them. We do not say that we shall not accept any suggestion if it is worthwhile. We shall consider it and take the opinion of the people as well. But if everyone felt that it was not in the nation’s interest, then it is our right to follow the path which we consider to be the best for us.
We are happy at the achievements of our brave soldiers on the front. They have been victorious at many places. A hard and difficult future lies ahead. But we should keep aloft the light of the ideal that shines in our hearts; it should be kept up. If we stick to our ideals, we shall be able to bring such prosperity and happiness to our land as neither our own people nor nations abroad have ever known. I am convinced that only the youth can
