Evening star., 1939-12-30

Acute Crisis Seen
For Japan During
Next Two Months
Abe Cobinet Confronted
With Many Difficult,
Momentous Decisions

win Mony O'TT'cuIt,
Momentous Decisions
BY A. T. STEELE,
CHICAGO Daily News Foreign Correspondent.
PEIP1NG, Dec. 30 (By Radio).-|
On the eve Of the new year Japan
stands on the brink of period of
acute crisis. The next two months
promise to be the most critical for
that country since the outbreak Of
the Sino-Japanese war in July,
1887. Premier Nobuyuki Abe's eabi-
net Is wobbly and unpopular, yet
faces decisions more dificult, nu-
merous and momentous than those
confronting any Of its recent prede-
cessorS.
When the cabinet took ONCE last
summer it was confidently pre-
dicted that the China affair would
be speedily settled through the es-
tablishment of a new Chinese gov
ernment under Wang Ching-wei.
But Wang is still procrastinating and
the Sino-Japanese war is still as far
from solution as ever.
Russia Driving Sharp Bargain.
Something must be done about
the fast-lapsing Japanese -Ameri-
can commercial treaty, but nobody
is sure what. And what of Russia,
to whom some panicky Japanese are
turning for help? Dictator Josef
v. Stain is meeting the Japanese
with a carrot in one hand and q
club in the other. The sharp bar
gain he is driving for new fisher
les agreement has upset Japanese
hopes for rightabout-face In
Soviet policy. Reports from Chung
king (China provisional capitaD
that Stain wired Generalissimo
Chang Kai-shek expressing the
wish that China "be completely
victorious in her struggle against
her enemy" annoyed the Japanese,
who had believed that the Soviets
might be induced to withdraw their
help from China.
A recent Japanese newspaper poll
indicates that the Japanese people
still regard Russia and Great Brit
ain as their worst enemies. Dis
content In the home area. espe-
cially among agrarian elements who
have not shared the benefits of the
munitions boom, is adding mo-
mentum to the movement for the
cabinets overthrow.
The present Japanese cabinet has
not single major accomplishment
to its credit. Premier Abe is con-
fronted with the necessity of pull
ing the rabbit out of the hat before
the Diet reconvenes next month.
If he does not it is certain that
the storm will break about his head.
Although the Wang Ching-wei
government cannot be inaugurated
before that time, the Japanese are
hopeful before the Diet opens to be
able at least to announce the date
OF the Inauguration.
Army More Assertive.
The army is increasingly assertive
and intensely annoyed by the gov
ernment's inability to patch up re-
lations with the United States fol-
lowing its great sacrifice in con-
senting to the partial reopening of
the Yangtze River to foreign ship.
ping. -, i
War Minister Gen. Shunroku Hata
this week announced that a four
year armament replenishment pro-
gram to cope with the grave inter-
national situation would be intro
duced at the Diet session. Hata
warned the nation against sanguine
optimism and remarked ominously
that the army "as the nucleus of
the whole Japanese nation" was de-
termined to solve the situation.
Japanese of1icialdom has aban-
doned its efforts to befuddle the
people into believing the Japanese
American negotiations are sure of
success. Newspapers are telling
their readers to prepare for the
worst as "the United States has
taken an attitude of interfering with
the construction of the new order"
Japanese businessmen and officials
are displaying the deepest uneasi-
ness as the treaty expiration date
approaches Uanuary 26), and there
Is considerable agitation among
civilian elements for some revision
of the monopolistic policies in China
as an effort to meet American
wishes.
Quick Settlement Desired.
Japan wants quick settlement
Of the expensive and burdensome
China affair so that she can begin
drawing dividends on her conquests.
More urgent is her desire for profit,
politically and financially. from the
war In Europe. As long as more
than a million soldiers are in
meshed in China and as long as the
China campaign continues to ab-
sorb most of her energies, resources
and productive capacity, Japan
stands little chance OF making much
profit out of Europe's troubles.
Nor can the Japanese overlook
the possibility that eventually they
may find it advantageous to par
ticipate in the European conflict as
a means Of extending their do
minions in the Orient. However,
the weight of the China milestone
must first be reduced, somehow.
So q quick peace In China is
the cardinal Japanese cbjective-a
quick peace without the sacrifice of
fundamental gains. To bring 1t
about, the japanese hope first to
establish a suitable atmosphere.
They are seeking to win the friend
ship of hostile Western powers and
to show the Chinese that 1t is USE
less to count on foreign Intervention
as an ultimate solution for their
Troubles Into the neacefnl getting