Evening star., 1933-11-01
Gen. Araki's Peace Conference.

Gen, AraklS Peace Conference.
No one hitherto has associated
sense of humor with grim Gen. Sadao
Araki, the militant master of Japan,
but it is difficult to believe that he lacks
one, in the light of the diverting pro-
p0Sal he has Just put forth. He would,
have the japanese government assemble
an international conference at Toxic in
1885, to discuss affairs of the Far East
and, in particular, to place the stamp
of world approval upon japanese policy
in that part of the glob-.
The specific purposes of the confer
ence, according to Gen. Araki, would
be to recognize the legitimacy and in
dependence of Manchukuo. revise the
nlne-poWer treaty and the kellogg pact,
both Of which have been obstacles in
Japan's path during the past two years,
and, finally, lay the basis of new
naval treaty to be concluded in 1885 in
replacement of the existing Washington
and London treaties. Japan for a long
time has signalled her determination
to scrap her present ratio of naval in
feriority to the United States and Great
Britain and Seek full parity with them.
To Gen. Arakis Far East conference
he would invite America, Great Britain.
France, China, Soviet Russia, India,
Manchukuo and some states not men
toned. He insists that the presence of
Manchukuo is absolutely essential" and
that IF the powers do not recognize
Manchukuo before the conference takes
place, Japan should seek to bring about
recognition at that time"
So far, the japanese government has
not identified itself with the Araki con-
ference plan, and as its favorable re-
ception abroad is considered more than
doubtful, Toxic cables report that the
proposal is not likely to be put forward
officially even though Gen. Araki. as
war minister. is the indisputable power
IN the government. The entire Man
churlan enterprise is attributed to him,
especially the creation of Manchukuo
So, even though at first his conference
project creates no ministerial enthus-
iasm in Toxic, it might be premature to
suggest that it will never be carried
into execution as long as his predomi-
nance in Toxic remains unchallenged.
Meantime, motives for Gen. Araki's
Idea are being zealously sought. One
theory advanced is that If the confer
ence hint encounters a chilly reception
abroad. the war minister would utilize
that situation as support for his view
that 1896 is to be a year Of "crisis"
in the Far East and prove the sound
ness Of the militarist contention that
the outside world has its hand raised
against Japan, which must meantime
prepare to defend its imperilled destiny
by steady expansion Of the army and
navy.
leader Of the Minselto party, Is waging
an active opposition campaign against
the alarmist and aggressive doctrines
preached by Gen Araki- "1 cannot
understand the viewpoint, says MT.
Wakatsuki, that 1886 will mark crisis
for Japan. Personally, I believe that
no such crisis will arise"
The outside world will be strongly
inclined to share that opinion. rather
than the bellicose outlook that Gen
Araki foreshadoWS for the island en-
pire. There is no likelihood that the
Western World remotely contemplates
taking up arms to despon Japan of her
territorial booty on the mainland OF
Asia, but Gen. Araki must be aware
that there is just as slender probability
that Europe and America would ever
20 to a conference in Toxic, convened
to secure their formal assent to the de-
struction by Japan of the machinery so
laboriously set up to preserve world
peace and the sanctity of international
agreements