斎藤隆夫粛軍演説 Takao Saitou’s Anti-Militarism Speech

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この演説の存在を知ったのは、ちょうど2年前のことです。

さて、現在の日本に於いて、このような演説を能える政治家がいるのでしょうか?拙僧はそれを訝しむばかりです。

It was two years ago that I first learned of the existence of this speech.

Reading over it, I began thinking as to whether any of the politicians in Japan today would be capable of making such a speech. Needless to say I have my doubts.

 

日中戦争の勃発以降、日本政府は軍事主義一辺倒で疾走したと考えることが多いですが、その流に抗うものもいました。斎藤隆夫はその一人で、政府が売り込むような国策は本当に国民の権益のためになるかという強い疑問を抱えて、1940年(昭和15年)2月2日に帝国議会でその疑問を内閣始め政府にぶつかりました。その演説はいわる「斎藤隆夫粛軍演説」でした。

It is often thought that the Japanese government ran full speed, completely devoted to the precepts of militarism following the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War. However, there were people who stood up and sought to stem the tide. Takao Saitou was one of these individuals. He was gravely concerned about whether the national policy pursued by the government was really in the best interests of the people, and decided to literally confront the Cabinet and the rest of the government with these doubts at a session of the Imperial Diet held on February 2, 1940. The speech he gave came to be known as Takao Saitou’s Anti-Militarism Speech.

 

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斎藤隆夫粛軍演説(最後の一部を抜粋)

Takao Saitou’s Anti-Militarism Speech (Excerpt from the end of the speech)

 

(この国の為政者は)この現実を無視して、ただいたずらに聖戦の美名に隠れて、

They (the leaders of this country) turn a blind eye to reality, merely hiding vainly behind the façade of what they dress up as a holy war.

 

国民的犠牲を閑却し、

They ignore the sacrifices made by the people of this country,

曰く国際正義、曰く道義外交、

曰く共有共栄、曰く世界の平和

claiming that it’s all in the name of global justice or virtuous diplomacy,

insisting upon mutually shared prosperity and world peace.

 

かくのごとき、雲をつかむような文字を並べ立てて、

そうして千載一遇の(戦争を終結する)機会を逸し

They spout off these empty concepts that are as fleeting as the clouds,

and have thrown away a golden opportunity (to bring the conflict to an end).

 

国家百年の大計を誤るようなことがありましたならば

これは現在の政治家は死してもその罪を滅ぼすことはできない

If mistakes have been made to completely unravel the 100 year grand design of the nation, they would be tantamount to grave sins for which not even the deaths of this nation’s leaders could atone.

 

事変以来(事変は日中戦争のこと)、我が国民は実に従順であります

言論の圧迫におうて、国民的意志、国民的感情をも披瀝することができない

The people of this nation have been incredibly obedient since the onset of this so-called incident (the Sino-Japanese War).

They freedom of speech suppressed, they cannot even lay bare their own volition or feelings.

 

政府の統制に服従するの何がためであるか

Then what is it that makes them subservient to this form of governmental control?

政府が適当(適切の意)に事変を解決してくれるであろう、

これを期待しておるがためである

It is because they expect this government to bring the Incident (Sino-Japanese War) to an appropriate close. This is why they obey.

 

しかるに、もし一朝、この期待が裏切らるることがあったならばどうであるか

But what would happen if one day something occurred that betrayed this sense of trust in the government?

 

国民は実に失望のどん底に蹴り落とされるのであります

The people of this nation would be cast down into the depths of utter despair.

 

総理大臣はただ私の質問に答えるばかりでない

The Prime Minister has completely failed to answer the questions I have raised.

 

この機会を通して全国民の理解を求められんことを要求するのである

私の質問は、これをもって終わりと致します

I demand that you take this opportunity to seek the understanding of every single citizen of this country. This hereby concludes my questions regarding the Incident (Sino-Japanese War).

 

演説の時間は1時間30分でした。この演説により、3月7日、斎藤は衆議院議員を除名された。

Saito spoke for nearly an hour and a half. However, his words cost him dearly, and he was forced to step down as a member of the House of Representatives a month later on March 7.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD1470HX95E