Evening star., 1936-03-22

CIAAcA states SlAACA SCNlEt0tS "a
State.
HUCH nonsense has been spoken
M about the recent outbreak Of
the radical reactionaries" in
= Japan and much that is true
has not been said. This partly because
it is impossible for us of the West to
understand the mental attitude of
those who. through patriotic motives
and for the sake of the Emperor, will
murder men who have devoted their
lives to the nation, men who actually
are the principal advisers to the En-
peror. 1t is still more difficult for us
to understand how the citizens of the
nation can applaud such actions. Yet
understand We must. at least super
ficially, if We are not totally to miSun-
derstand the Japanese problem.
The japanese army and navy, pri-
marily because they are the defenders
of the nation and consider themselves
consecrated to promote japanese inter-
estS abroad. feel that they are in a
special class. superior to those whose
position in the government depends on
the vagaries of political winds and
tides. They also feel that in them re-
sides what is left of the Samurai ira
dition, that they are the exponents of
the ancient loyaltieS. This attitude,
understandable enough, becomes dam
gerous only when individuals take it on
themselves to determine the manner in
which they shall conserve and promote
the interests with which they believe
themselves charged. That is the time
when those who are reactionary in
sentiment become wild radicals in &C
ton.
Forget Other Patriots.
There is no doubt that, especially
during the last few years, certain
higher officers of the army and the
navy have been carrying on an intense
propaganda among Junior officers
which is, tacitly at least, in favor OF
erect action to serve what they be-
lieve 20 be the best interests of Japan.
All this is urged in the name OF the
Emperor, who is the soul OF the ma
ton, the living representative OF all
the traditions which, in their eStima-
ton, have made Japan great.
What they fail totally to see is that
there are other patriots who are quite
as solicitous for the advancement OF
the nation and for the honor of the
Emperor, and that these other pa
triots may have just as good Judg-
ment as they. The seniors in the serV-
ices would not themselves be guilty OF
murder to get their way; but they
are really responsible for what hap
pens, since it is they who have stirred
the younger officers to madness.
Every one knows the story of that
recent tragic night in Japan when
certain young army officers started out
to purge the government OF those
whom they believed to be opposed to
further military adventure in China;
of liberal statesmen who, they thought,
welded a sinister influence on the
Emperor. Admiral Saito was mur-
dered-that grand old man who lived
long for his country before he had to
die for it; a man of ancient lineage
who had been a successful governor
general of Korea, who had admirably
represented his country at many in
ternational conferences; the closest
adviser of the Emperor; a great
patriot.
They killed Takahashi, minister OF
finance, another great partiot, who
had risen from farm to carry Japan
safely through the financial crises of
recent years, whose extraordinary
ability in the work of the treasury
had somehow supplied funds to en-
able the army and navy to carry on
in Asia; whose only fault was that he
had urged economy when he believed
that economy was necessary to save
the nation from bankruptcy.
Tried to Kill Okada.
They tried to kill Okada, the prime
minister-another admiral; and by
mistake killed his unfortunate brother
in-law instead. They apparently
wanted to kill Count Maxine, another
great patriot, who for years has been
the wise adviser Of the Emperor; who
is philosopher, student and one
of the worlds greatest gentlemen.
1t was reported that they would
have killed Prince Saionji, the last OF
the Genro, who with his great coll
leagues, long since dead, was an ad-
wiser of the Emperor Meiji. on4of the