Evening star., 1934-02-28
CONCERN CREATED
BY JAPAN'S NOTE.
Apprehension Felt Here as
Military Dominance in
I Toxic Is Seen.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
The strongly worded note sent by
the Japanese government to Moscow,
protesting against alleged shots fired
at japanese flyers and alleged flights
Of Russian aviators over Korea and
Manchukuo and demanding assur-
ances that such acts will not be re-
peated, has created surprise and un-
easiness in official quarters in WASH
ington.
For the last few weeks there have
been no bellicose demonstrations in
Japan. Japanese Ambassadors and
diplomats as well as unofIicial emmis-
saries to foreign countries have been
giving assurances that the domina-
tion Of the military over the civilian
government in Toxic had come to an
end. The foreign office, it was stated,
will henceforth handle its own affairs
without the interference Of admirals
and generals.
Japan is prepared against any
emergency, it was said by Japan's rep
resentatives, but it does not harbor
hostile intentions against any Of its
neighbors.
Note Seen as Denial.
The unexpected action of Toxic Of
sending q drastic note to Moscow
seems to deny the pacific reassurances
Of the Japanese diplomats.
1t was known that there had been
skirmisheS and shots fired across the
border Of Siberia and Manchukuo
for quite a few months. japanese as
well as Russian aviators have been
losing themselves" over each others
territory. but these things were con-
Sidered inevitable when two nations
have strong forces concentrated at the
frontiers
Friendly protests were made occa-
sionally by the respective foreign
offices, but there has not been in re-
cent months a single note exchanged
on these matters smacking of an ulti-
matum as strongly as the one sent
today.
The immediate conclusion reached
here is that the Japanese military still
dominate in Toxic and it is believed
that the pacific reassurances Of the
Japanese diplomats were nothing
more than Smoke-screen.
Season Held Significant.
1t is natural that under the cir
cumstances 1t should be remembered
by those concerned in the Far East
ern affairs that the season for mill
tary operations in Siberia is approach
ing and there is a good deal of ap-
prehension about the whole situation.
Despite the ofiicial assurances from
Toxic that Japan Is not seeking a
conflict with Russia, 1t is believed
that the military leaders still have in
mind that this is the time for Japan
to strike and do away with whatever
Russian influence remains In the Far
East.
The Japanese do not believe that
the Russian forces in Siberia are as
strong as Moscow claims, and think
that 1t will be a comparatively easy
thing to push them back behind the
Baikal Lake
The very statements Of the Russian
military leaders, War Minister Voro-
shilof and Gen. Ilie Blucher, that
the Russian Army is fully prepared to
meet a Japanese onslaught is consid-
cred in Toxic as a sign of weakness.
Furthermore, the efforts of the Soviet
diplomats to find strong support, If
not alliances in Europe, especially
from France and Poland, is considered
as another indication of Russias lack
OF confidence. Moscow does not ex-
pect an active support from these ma
tions in the case Of a conflict, but
it hopes that their diplomatic action
may, in the end, play in her favor,