Evening star., 1936-03-22

author of the article you are reading,
it is well to accept only with great
reserve anything that comes from
Moscow or from Shanghai.
These deplorable murders in Toxic.
therefore, especially since the Japa-
nese government escaped the danger
Of a military coup detat. may actual
" have the effect of decreasing mil
itary domination in Japan and, corre-
spondingly, of increasing the liberaliZ-
ing influence of the fine men who are
eager to be of any assistance possible
when they are given the opportunity.
In speaking of liberalism in japan.
however. We must never confuse the
term with radicalism. Japanese lib
eralism has no taint OF socialism, still
less Of communism. The japanese
liberal, loyal supporter Of the. i'm
perial system, holds fast to all tradi-
tionS of the nation but understands
that these traditions are inevitably
modified by modern conditions. He
is conscious that the lower classes
have rights just as surely as have the
upper classes, and is interested in So
cial legislation. He welcomes INTEL
ligence and talent wherever it may be
found. He believes in a government
of laws rather than of men.
Have Red Affiliations.
The conservative, on the other
hand. as represented by many men
high in the military service, has many
Affiliations with communism. His
theory is that any deviation from an
cient Japanese custom-as he inter
prets its dangerous to the integrity
of the nation. He is the foe of the
political party system because he ex-
aggerates its Importance; he is the foe
of capitalism not because he would
want to divide the wealth. but because
he thinks the wealth is in the wrong
hands. He is mixture Of reaction
and of socialism-which may be a
form of reaction. He would have the
empire ruled by men amenable to no
laws. but only, theoretically, to the
Emperor.
One of the greatest of all liberals
AS EllIIC OdlOAllit WIN ID PlOUdbiy IIOW
in the capital advising the Emperor.
Advancing years never seem to dim
the far-seeing eyes of Prince Saionji,
nor does the weight of old age make
him give up the fight for progressive
principles. He combines the wisdom
of age with the clear vision of youth.
He has many followers among the
young men. Such a man as Prince
Konoye, for example-the man on
whose shoulders many people believe
will fall, eventually, the mantle of the
Genro, advisers to the throne-yields
to no militarist in his devotion to the
Emperor nor in his unselfish and un-
sullied patriotism. If Konoye had
been we'll enough to form a cabinet.
as he was requested to do, the march
of events might have been accelerated,
although perhaps his real task of ad-
wiser will come later.
The fact that Hirota was asked to
head a new cabinet indicated that no
retreat before forces of reaction was
seriously considered. If, through his
death, Admiral Saito could somehow
make the Japanese nation understand
that the army and the navy have no
monopoly on patriotism; that egotistic
belief in the purity of ones own mo-
tives and in the rightness of ones
own little ideas is no measure Of
patriotism; that the greatness of the
nation lies in its character far more
than in its sword; that the virtues of
ancient Japan can still be and should
still be the virtues of modern japan,
he would know that his death was not
in vain.
Japan Not Backing Down.
Even If I am right in feeling that
the recent abortive attempt to change
the character of those around the
throne will be likely to help rather
than to hinder the Liberal movement
in Japan, I am not SO foolish as to
think that the more enlightened lead
ers who would take control under the
Emperor, will reverse the national pol
lev on the continent of Asia.
Men of this caliber, again under di-
rection of the Emperor, have already
called the army to order In North
China and have prevented the inva-
sion which looked inevitable q few
months ago. But this does not mean
that Japan is backing down on its
mission of civilization" It does not
| mean that Japan Is going to retreat,