The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-18

Entirely aside from the demand of President Roosevelt for the enaperor'a apologies over the slnk- ing of American ships in the Yangtse, the emperor hes some pretty stiff problems on his hands the most important of these be. ing whether he will be the real ruler of Japan or become the mere puppet of the Army and Navy.
 For even before young Japan. eee officers began to 60 haywire, disregard the Instructions of their superiors, and shoot up foreign vessels, the emperor was on the spot because of the fascist revolt within the army.
 It began two years ago when . handful oe young army Osfl- ceEs walked with drawn revolv. CTS into the homes of JApan's leading statesmen, shot them down in cold blood and proceed. ed to take over Che clty, Only 8 personal command from Che eFh- peror, plus the threat thas they would be blown out of their barrlcaded building brought these young men to time.
 The statesmen they shot weer leaders of the moderate wing who had urged c more cautious Japanese policy abroad. They op. posed the army's tActic of shaks Ing the mailed fist under the worlds nose.
 Though the young officers finally surrendered, they did not altogether fail. For the Japan- csc government ever since has veered toward their aggressive course in order to prevent fur. thor uprisings.
 Democratic Hlrohlto
 All Of which probably does not Sit any too well with tho efns peror. For Hirohito Is rather kindly, democratic person much more moderate end modern than most of the statesmen around him. When ho returned from Q European trip whilo still Prince Regent, he issued on ed!ct that honceforth traffic should not Do cleared from the streets as he passed through. Previously the streets had be0n completely cleared of human life and the windows shuttered.
 On his trip, Hlrohlto noted that traffic did not stop for European rulers, and returning to Japan ho remarked:
 "The ides of any one man holding up thousands Of people. xt's oil f0ollshness."
 This European trip in itself was ono of tho greatest events of the Empire, and eofn0 Japanese threw themselves in front of his train to protest against his des parture. To them, the emperor should lead c eloisteTed life, and c visit to the heather shores of Europe was bound to bring nas tional disaster.
 Japanese Quaker
 On the trip, Hirohito took as his close companion, c young jap. anese quaker named @awada, lA. tor counselor of tho Japanese ems basy !n Washington. His diary gives important insight Into the character of tho man who heads the worlds most belligoront no. ton.
 It should Do noted that hitherto, few people were allowed to sec, lot alone touch the Japanese emperor. The court physician felt his pulse through silk gauge, while tho court taller took his measurements from aeross the room.
 On Hir0hit0's ship passing through the Red sea, however, ,Sawada recounts inst "Marquls Komatsu wFestled with Ills Highness, who seemed not to mind Che heat nor the intensity of the exercise. Time and again Ills xllghness struggled with his opponents, even when troubled by nose. bleeding"
 Later, in Paris Hiyohlto persuade cd his bodyguard to lot him ride on the subway despite strict or. ders in Tokyo against 1t. H0 even insisted on having his thrill of buying the tickets himself. This he did, and presented three to the fat old lady who guarded tho gate. But no handed them to her in a bunch, rather than spread out fan. shape 50 she could punch them quickly, and she loosed c storm Of terrific abuse on tho future Emperor of Japan.
 "Kimi," he finally appealed to one of hls aides, "the grand- mother ls talking to me. I can't understand her, but she seems to hsve her back up."
 Kirohito's chief delight was in getting off the gold braid of his "workIng clothes" end being just kanas