Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-28
Subject Believed Discussed
Between Secretary Stimson
and Macdonald.
TROOP CONCENTRATION
ALARMS OTHER POWERS
Retention of Gen. Araki in Cabinet
Seen as Meaning Military Policy
to Be Continued.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

The RuSSo-JapaneSe tension in the
Far East and the ACCESSIBILITY OF holding
q five-power conference in Toxic is be-
Ieved in well-informed quarters to have
been the main topic of the telephone
conversation between Secretary Henry
L. Stimson and Premier Ramsay Mac
Donald last Friday.
The Secretary of State and high Off
Gals of the State Department insist in
shrouding that conversation with the
greatest secrecy. maintaining that such
talks are frequent and as long as they
do not lead to anything definite. it is
not in the public interest to have them
divulged to the press.
II is admitted, however, in official
quarters that the strained situation be-
tween Russia and Japan keeps the world
chancellories worried. The continual
maSsing OF Japanees forces in Manchu-
ria, close to the Siberian border, cannot
be explained satisfactorily by the jap
anese.
After the assassination Of Premier
Inukai, Washington diplomatic circles
were worried lest purely military gov
eminent should be formed in Japan.
The news of the formation Of the pres
ent colorless government was received
with a sigh of relief because it was
hoped that the new japanese admins
tration, while pledged to carry on the
policy of the military in Manchuria,
would hacjfatp RI nd tho lana
military adventure into Siberia.
Araki Reappointed.
This rejoicing was, however, of short
duration, because on Wednesday night
it was known that Gen. Araki, the mill
tant minister of war of the Inukai gov
eminent, who is chiefly responsible for
Japan's aggressive policy in the Far
East had been re-appointed IS minister
of war. under the pressure of the mill
tary party in Toxic.
This news caused renewed concern
both in Washington and London. On
Thursday, few hours after the news
had reached Washington and London,
Mr.. Macdonald called Secretary Slim
son from Lossiemouth, his residence in
Scotland, where the British premier is
spending short holiday, to discuss, &C
cording to reliable reports, the new
situation and what the United States
and Great Britain could do to avert the
possible outbreak of a conflict between
Russia and Japan.
With the arrival of the 18th japanese
Division in Manchuria the number Of
japanese troops in that province have
reached about 10000 men, fully
equipped and provided with the neces-
Sary artillery, air force, tanks and other
paraphernalia necessary to modern war
fare. If the japanese, it is said. in
tended merely to pacify Manchuria and
reduce the rowing bands of insurgents,
they would not need either such a large
number of men nor their present equip
Elent, which can be necessary only in
an important military campaign.
Other Purpose Feared.
Consequently it is assumed that the
japanese general staff has other plans
in mind. Since the relations between
Russia and Japan have been increas-
ingly tense in the last few weeks, the
assumption is that Japan may intend
to settle her old scores with Russia at
the present moment when Russia is
weak and the rest of the world is con-
fronted with other problems than stop
a conflict between those two powers.
Japan, it is said, has been preparing
number Of alibis, which would give a
satisfactory explanation to the public
as to her reasons to attack Russia. The
strongest reason is that Chinese brig
ands" are equipped by the Soviet gov
ernment and after raiding Manchurian
towns and harrassing the japanese 20
lice" they find refuge when pursued in
Russian territory across the Amur
River.
The Russians deny this, stating that
not single Chinese soldier has crossed
into their territory; but nobody, the
japanese think, is expected to believe
any statement coming from Moscow
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