Evening star., 1941-08-16
Member of the Associated Press
Crisis at Toxic

The attempted assassination of
Baron Kiichiro Hiranuma reveals a
situation in japanese domestic poll
tics SO volcanic that almost anything
may happen. The crime seemingly
was political, and is reminiscent of
the series of aSSaSSinations in 1886,
when several cabinet ministers were
murdered by ultra-natiOnaliStS as a
preliminary to an abortive military
rebellion to seize the government and
establish a full-f1edged army dicta-
torship. Behind that attempted
putsch, led by fanatical young army
officers, was seen the ruthless hand
of Japen's most dreaded secret Or
gantsation, the Black Dragon Society,
whose tentacles reach into high cir
cles and whose membership is bound
by an oath sealed in their own blood.
This sinister group is still headed
and inspired by It's original founder,
q mld-mannered but formidable old
man named Mitsuro Toyama. For
nearly half a century he has worked
tirelessly for japanese domination
throughout the Far East. Indeed, he
did much TO launch Japan upon its
first great adventure-the lightning
attack upon Russia almost forty
years ago.
Why Baron Hiranuma should have
been the first target of such ultra
patriots may seem at first sight
illogical, because the Baron is an
ardent nationalist and a believer in
IJapen's imperial destiny In fact,
Tumor has 1t that he is a Black
dragon. The explanation seems to
/ He In the fact that, while Baron
i Hranuma Is q super nationalist, he
is not q totalitarian. Believing that
Japan should keep free hand in its
foreign policy, he has opposed tying
rfp fully with the Berlin-Rome Axis
Furthermore, he supports big busi-
ness and finance In its opposition to
the barrack-room socialism which
the army hotheadS would impose on
the nation. Baron Hiranuma has
thus come to occupy middle the
road position in japanese politics,
not because he has grown more con-
servative but rather because many
Of his nationalistic colleagues have
gone much more radical,
Fortunately the Baron is still very
much alive and probably will recover.
1t is a good omen that the attack on
his life seems to be cryStallizing both
the press and public opinion in
wholehearted condemnation. Per-
haps most important of all, the
Emperor has shown him august favor
in sending the imperial physician
and a large basket of palace fruit.
Such acts weigh heavily in Japan.
All this makes it appear that the
moderate elements of Japan are still
determined to resist strongly the
plans Of the extremists who want to
push the country into further ag-
gressions which probably would in
volve war with Britain and America,
and perhaps with Russia as well.
That this moderate opposition exists
in official circles was revealed a few
days ago In the warning interview of
Kaname Wakasugi, prominent
diplomat on his way home from
Washington. 1t Is equally evident in
a leading editorial just published in
the official organ of the foreign
office, stating frankly that the un-
certainties of the Russo German war
rendered it necessary that Japan
"make a reaSsessment of the war
situation there and cast about for
bearings from a new angle"
Japan thus does not seem irrevo-
cably committed to war. The danger
Is that the fanatical imperialists
today so powerful in the government
and the army may risk anything
rather than see the failure of their
policies and the defiation of their
ambitious selves.