Evening star., 1936-12-10
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Member of the Associated Press.
Crisis i'm Japan.

Toxic reports disclose that Japan has
been plunged into another politico-
military crisis, consequent upon her anti
Communist alliance with Germany and
Its repercusSions at Moscow Smarting
under resultant agitation, Foreign Min
sster Arita Is understood to have sub
mitted his resignation. In case it is ac-
cepted, it is said that the rest of the gov
ernment threatens mass resignation
from Premier Hirota's cabinet by way
of protest. Ever since the mysterious
compact with the Nazis the government
has been under heavy fire, with Arita
bearing the brunt Of the criticism. Ap-
parently the deal, under Army pressure,
was negotiated without the support
either of the privy council, the Emperors
supreme consultative body, or of public
opinion. Resentment reached the boil
ing point after the Soviet Union an
nounced, as reprisal step, that it would
not ratify the new treaty whereby Japan
acquired valuable fishing rights in ST.
berian waters and renewal of the
Sakhalin oil concessions. The fishery
pact is of vital Importance because the
Japanese depend upon the region in
question as an indispensable source of
food supply.
While possible cancellation of the
Russian treaty is the immediate cause
Of the cabinet turmoil, the incident in
Its broader aspect is an expression Of
rising opposition to the governments
international program and fear Of the
results which can flow from militarist
attempts to dictate it. The pact with
Germany is assailed as embroiling Japan
In European affairs and in complications
of no direct interest to the empire.
Indignation is none the less bitter be-
cause of well-founded suspicious that the
army, traditionally pro-German, played
the major role in scheme looking TO
united German-Japanese military action
against Russia. For all these reasons
dissatisfaction is now rampant on scale
unwitnessed since the army precipitated
the Manchurian adventure in 1881. At
meeting of the privy council on We'd
nesday, attended by the Emperor, the
cabinet was raked fore and aft for its
inept conduct of foreign relations.
Chinas new resistance to Japan'S pre-
tensions is factor in the situation.
After last Winters army revolt, with its
orgy Of assassination and resultant gov
ernmental reorganization, it was supposed
that militarist influence on foreign policy
had been curbed, if not subdued. But
the German alliance is a signal that the
generals are intent upon preserving their
dominance. The Kwantung army, the
real ruler of Manchukuo, has systemati-
cally fouted the government by aggressive
moves in China. The recent invasion of
Suiyuan by Mongolian and Manchukuan
forces under Japanese leadership is the
latest example of the soldiers determine
tion to force the expansion issue. Last
weeks occupation of Tsingtao, in Shan
tung Province, suggests that the navy is
at one with the army in the program to
bring China progressively under the Jap
anese yoke and to brook no civilian
restraint.
Events clearly indicate that military
naval interference With the political
power at Toxic once again has produced
q critical situation. Absorption of the
western powers, notably Great Britain,
In domestic concerns doubtless whets the
readiness Of Japans imperialists to
pursue their provocative purposes on the
mainland of Asia, regardless of inter-
national consequences.