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those who fell dead in battle or died of disease, and those that have been disabled, We deeply appreciate their patriotism and sympathize with their lot.
We have concluded peace with China, and are about to share with you the felicity of peace. But We think the enhanced honour of the army and navy and the glory of the Empire have added weight to your duties and responsibilities. Desirous as We are, now that the Imperial glory has been augmented, to enjoy and share with you the glory and honour of the Empire, We cannot but perceive that the future destiny of the State is as yet undeveloped; and We therefore enjoin upon you, whether you remain in the respective services or are disbanded and go home, to obey faithfully Our instructions, to keep always in view the five articles, and to observe the duties of warriors, so as to discharge with the utmost sincerity on any necessary future occasion the duties that you owe to the Empire.
Governing Our realm by the abiding aid of Our ancestors’ achievements, which have enabled us to secure the prosperity of Our people at home and to establish relations of close amity with the nations abroad, it is a source of heartfelt gratification to Us that, as a result of exhaustive planning and repeated negotiations, an agreement has been come to with the Powers, and the revision of treaties, Our long-cherished aim, is to-day on the eve of becoming an accomplished fact, a result which, while it adds materially to the responsibilities of Our Empire, will greatly strengthen the basis of Our friendship with foreign countries.
It is Our earnest wish that Our subjects, whose devoted loyalty in the discharge of their duties is conspicuous, should enter earnestly into Our sentiments in this matter, and, in compliance with the great policy of opening the country, should all unite with one heart to associate cordially with the people from far countries, thus maintaining the character of the nation and enhancing the prestige of the Empire.
In view of the responsibilities that devolve upon Us in giving effect to the new treaties, it is Our will that the Ministers of State, acting on Our behalf, should instruct Our officials of all classes to observe the utmost circumspection in the management of affairs, to the end that subjects and strangers alike may enjoy equal privileges and advantages, and that, every source of dissatisfaction being avoided, relations of peace and amity with all nations may be strengthened and consolidated in perpetuity.