Evening star., 1939-08-09
Japan Facing
Crisis Over
Axis Alliance

Premier Hirunumus
Life Reported
Threatened
BACKGROUND
Japan concluded anti-conin-
tern agreement 1Dith Germany
In Nouember. 1886, and bloc Uas
later expanded to include Italy,
Spain and Hungary. Japan and
-dTis poDerS hare 1Uorked in close
harmony against European de-
mocracies, the NipponeSe taking
advantage of their diuersion in
Europe'S affairs. Movement for
ariS alliance has groWn in recent
months, particularly since
United States denounced its CON-
mercial treaty NTH Japan last
month.
BY the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, Aug ga bitter
internal struggle in Japan over
"iASpllSl lllS Olllpll Slldll SOIlSluuC
an outright alliance with Germany
and Italy which may cause the fall
OF the japanese cabinet was de-
scribed today by an informed trav-
eler from Toxic.
This informant, in close touch
with government and diplomatic
quarters in Toxic said the situation
there was extremely tense. Rumors
were current that extreme National
lists had threatened the lives of
cabinet members. including Premier
Baron Kiichiro Hiranuna, who were
believed to be opposing the alliance.
It's proponents were described
as young army officers '-majo jors,
lieutenant colonels. colonels-who
demand an outright alliance with
the totalitarian powers. This open
revolt was expected to compel a
showdown from which results even
more startling than the fall of the
cabinet might come.
Dictated Several Decisions.
The young officers" have been
credited with debating several ma
jor decisions in japanese policy in
recent years. including the conquest
of Manchukuo. the invasion Of
China and changes in domestic pol
icy to put Japan on a war basis.
A Toxic dispatch today said 1t
Gen. Seishiro Itagaki, war minister,
had arranged to report TO Emperor
Hirohito tomorrow concerning the
armys attitude on current European
developments.
Tckio messages for the past week
have told of recrudeScence of army
and extremist agitation for japanese
alliance.
The cabinet as whole was de-
scribed as strongly against the al
lance. The imperial household
the high officials closest to the En-
peror-was said to be strongly op-
posed to any serious European COM
mitments. Both elements were in
favor of nothing stronger than
notifications to strengthen the
anti-comintern pact in which Japan
has joined Germany, Italy, Hun
gary, Spain and Manchukuo.
Even the army high command
was reported to want to avoid the
outright alliance for which the
young officers" are agitating and
to desire nothing more than a lim-
tied mutual aid agreement against
Soviet Russia only.
Ammunition for Alliance GROUP.
The informant described Japan's
situation thus:
Three events Of recent weeks gave
the alliance proponents fresh am
munition: The United Statess de-
nunciation July 26 of her trade
treaty with Japan; the apparent
success of Britain and France in
their negotiations with Russia for a
mutual aid pact; Britain's refusal
IN the current Toxic conference to
promise definite alteration of her
China policy, especially her unwill-
lngness to meet Japans demands
concerning China currency.
Most important of these was said
to be the American action, which
convinced Japan that no Coop
Grafton could be expected from the
United States or from Britain or
France, and hence closer ties with
Germany and Italy would be bet
ter than complete isolation.
The Toxic cabinet rejected the
original proposals for an alliance
three months ago. Under recent
pressure, however, the government
was reported to have agreed to en-
ter an alliance on one primary con-
dltlon: That in case of war Japan
would provide her allies with direct
assistance only when and under
such circumstances as it appeared
to her necessary
Shrewd Political Maneuver.
This would in effect have nullified
the value of an alliance. It was
considered a shrewd political ma
neuver designed to compel Italy
and Germany to assume the re-
sponsibility of rejecting Japan's
proposals.
However, last week the Japanese
Ambassadors to Italy and Germany,
Toshio Shiratori and 1t. Gen.
Hiroshi Oshima, met at Lake Como,
Italy. Both are known to be ardent
advocates OF a Japanese-German-
Italian alliance At the same time
the army's big three" met in To-
klo-Gen. Itagaki, Field Marshal
Prince Kotohito Kanin. chief OF the
general staff, and Gen. Toshlzo
Nishio, inspector general of military
educatiop