The Status of INA (contd-1)

Count Hisaichi Terauchi ( 8 August 1879 – 12 June 1946) was a Gensui (or Marshal) in the Imperial Japanese Army and Commander of the Southern Expeditionary Army Group during World War II. He was ordered to lead the occupation over Southeast Asia 

When Netaji first raised the question of INA participating in the proposed Japanese campaign against Imphal (in Manipur, India) Field Marshal Count Terauchi, Commander-in-Chief of all the Japanese forces in South East Asia , was not very willing to accept the proposal. The soldiers composing the INA , said he, would not be able to fight as well as Japanese soldiers, as they had been defeated in the battle of Malaya and consequently were demolarised. Further, being accustomed to the ease and luxury of the British army they would not be able to stand up to the rigours of a Japanese campaign.Lastly , they were after all, once British  mercenaries and would find it difficult to resist the temptation of deserting to the British where there better prospect of pay , food and early chance of meeting with their families. Terauchi therefore proposed that that the Japanese Army should do all that was necessary to liberate India, that Bose himself should assist by enlisting the goodwill and sympathy of the Indian people, that the main part of the INA should be left in Singapore , and that only espionage and propaganda groups should be used in the field.
This proposal , which virtually  meant that Netaji should merely play the role of a fifth columnist, gave a rude shock to him. He made a proud and dignified reply, "Any liberation of India secured through Japanese sacrifices ," said he  ,"is worse than slavery."  
He talked about the national honour of India, insisted that Indians must make the contribution of blood and sacrifice themselves and urged that the INA be allowed to form the spearhead of the coming offensive. At last Terauchi consented .