Evening star., 1932-05-16
j. s. IS UNALARMED
BY TOXIC Staying
Observers Believe Japan Is
Heading Toward FeudaI
Form of Government.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

By CONSTANTINE BROWN.
In well informed official circles in
Washington the outbreak yesterday in
Toxic that resulted in the assassination
of Premier Tsuyoshi Inukai was not
completely unexpected. There has been
trouble in the air In Toxic for the last
three months.
In spite of the extreme nationalism
which seems to be sweeping the Japa-
nese empire at present, the pending
change Of government is not likely to
make relations between this country
and Japan either better or worse. For
this reason the developments in Toxic
are followed with interest, but without
undue alarm.
The japanese premier was assassi-
mated by a group led by flve naval
officers and composed Of young cadets
Of the Toxic military academy. These
men were the tools Of comparatively
small but very powerful political group
which has existed In Japan for a num-
Der Of years and carries the queer name
Of Military Socialists" This party OF
super patriots does not believe in party
politics and is composed of a number
Of secret societies throughout the coun-
try which obey without hesitation Or
ders from headquarters.
Two Leading Platforms.
The Military Socialists have two
principal platforms; they advocate the
naturalization Of Japan's principal eco
nomic organizations, such as banks,
shipping lines, ETC., and want to re-
establish the old feudal system of gov
ernment, whereby the country is ruled
by the Emperor with the exclusive as
sistance of the army and the navy and
without the interference of political
parties, which are considered damaging
and pernicious to Japans natural de-
velopment. 1t must be said that tie
powers that be in the army and navy
are not fully in sympathy with this
movement and it Is only the younger
elements who are active
In the last few weeks, it appeared the
big Five" the leading Japanese monied
interests, were getting the upper hand
and that Premier Inukai, nationalist as
he was, had come under their influence
and advocated policy of bringing
Japan back into the folds of the society
of nations" The signing Of the Shang-
hal truce, especially, was one of the
gestures demanded by the Big Five as a
token to the outside world that Japan
does not intend to 60 on Haunting the
other world powers.
Inukai had been warned that he was
jeopardizing his life by listening to the
advice Of the Big Five, but he paid no
heed to these warnings.
Favor Naturalization.
The Military Socialists want to
nationalize the big industrial and finan-
cial organizations Of Japan in order to
use their vast earnings for purely ma
tional purposes" AS long as the Big
Five remained in the background and
supported the plans of the soldiers by
raising the necessary money for Japan's
military adventures, the Military So
cialists remained quiet. When these big
industrialists and fnanciers began ad-
vocating a policy of international
reconciliation and gained the support
Of the late premier and Of the Emperor,
the Military Socialists decided to do
away not only with the premier, but
with the entire Semi-democratic system
of government of Japan.
Although it Is difficult to say at
present whether these men will be COM
pletely successful, there is no doubt in
the minds Of those who have been fol-
lowing closely the situation in Japan
that while 1t may take some time be-
fore a feudal form of government can
be fully established in Japan. the
next government will be intensly
nationaliStic.
Shiranuma to Be Premier.
The Emperor, it is said, intends to
intrust with the formation of the new
government Baron Shiranuma, the vice
president of the privy council and a
prominent member Of the Koku Hensha
Society. This society, which Is affili-
ated with the Military Socialists, is
powerful In Toxic. Its name in English
means state Origin Society" Baron
Shiranuma is known to be a moderate
reactionary and to have a good deal Of
influence with the Emperor. He is abb
solutely loyal to the army and navy and
favors the idea Of government by the
supreme authority in Japan, the EN-
peror, aided only by the mainstays Of
the nation, the army and the navy.
In case he Is called to head the new
| Japanese government, there Is no doubt
the civilian element will be relegated TO
| most insignificant position and the
country will be ruled in accordance with
the wishes of the military, much moro
than has been the case in the last few
| months Japan. 1t is said by those who
nave followed closely the recent devel-
opments. is heading toward a medieval
| form of government.