Evening star., 1936-02-29
Secret Is Kept
by Emperor,
Aides.
RELATIVE is
REAL VICTIM
"Double" Is Killed
in Garden of
Statesman.

Copyright, 1886, by the Associated Press.
TOXIC, February 29.-Premier Kei-
suke Okada. proclaimed throughout
the world as victim of aSsasSins'
guns in Japan's military purge, re-
appeared alive and unhurt today as
the rebellious movement collapsed.
His resurrection" electrifying a
nation which believed its chief cab
met officer had been cut down by the
bullets of revolving officers, remained
an official secret until after the 1000
rebels had surrendered.
Then the cabinet secretariat dis
closed dramatically that the premier
still lived and headed the government
and that the man slain by the excited
insurgents was his brother-in-law who
closely resembled him.
The mutineers. who sprang swift
coup at dawn Wednesday, attacked
liberal elder statesmen and seized gov
ernment centers. finally yielded their
positions after the loyal troops rum
bled tanks into place and launched an
advance.
Family Kept Secret.
Hisatsune Sekomizu. the premier's
private secretary, told the Domei
(Japanese) News Agency tonight that
members of Okada's family knew he
was alive Thursday night, but kept
the matter a strict secret.
The secretary said that when rebel
AAG 1x,11o do tho y%rnreior'c roci.
dence their headquarters, asked Sc
komizu to remove what the revolution
lists thought was the premier's body,
the secretary said he did so-fully
aware that the body was that OF some
one other than the premier.
When I saw the body" SekomiZu
told the news agency. Il realized that
it was that of Col. Matsuo, vino had
married the premier's younger sister.
"Matsuo and Okada had very similar
voices. The rebels appeared convinced
that the body was that of Okada.
"I cannot tell you now where the
premier was during the outbreak"
Inquest Disclosed.
The secretary also disclosed that an
inquest was held over the body of the
premier's brother-in- Thursday
night.
Another report of the news agency
said that Okada apparently hid in a
secluded part of the grounds during
the attack on his residence and later
slipped away to safer quarters.
The United States Embassy an
nounced a check-up of the American
community showed no Americans
were harmed or molested seriously
during the rebellion, despite the abb
normal conditions which gripped the
capital for four days.
While some Americans chafed
against the restrictions of their
movements under martial law, the
embassy announced it found the Japa-
nese military was markedly consider
ate of the safety of foreign diplomats
and residents during the crisis.
All the 1000 rebels surrendered or
were captured, the headquarters Of
the martial law administration an
nounced, after Lieut.. Gen. Kohei
Kashii's command advanced on the
rebel positions in the center of the
capital, and machine gun firing was
heard.
Bloodshed Avoided.
As far as could be determined i'm
mediately, however, the suppression
was accomplished without bloodshed.
the insurgents in groups Of from 10
to $50 surrendering at various points
as the government troops closed in
on them.
The announcement that Premier
Okada-one of the four liberal states
men previously announced to have
been assassinated-was found alive.
came officially from the japanese
cabinet.
Fumio Goto, home minister, who
became acting premier while Emperor
Hirohito, imperial princes, high mill
tarists and ministers sought new
premier under the insurgents insist
ence on their ideal of government,
was formally relieved of his post.
The cabinet secretariat announced:
"When the insurrection broke out,
Premier Okada was reported killed in
the official residence. Now, however,
it is disclosed that the person there
killed was actually Col. Demo Matsuo
"1t was discovered that Premier
Okada was living unharmed. Yester-
day morning, Premier Okada rendered
his resignation to the throne through
acting Premier Goto.''
Okada remained, however, as pre-
mier. When he rendered his resigna-
ton, Emperor Hirohito commanded
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