Evening star., 1941-10-17
Calls
Army TO Lead
New Regime
Gen. Tojo, Admirer
Of Axis, Named
To Premiership
BY TIE Associated Press.

BY TIE Associated Press
TOXIC Oct. 17.-Emperor Hiro-
hito called on the army today to
furnish the leadership of a new gov
ernment confronted with tremendous
issues which the fallen Kenoye cabi-
net admitted its inability to handle,
chiefly critical relations with the
United States and Soviet Russia.
1t. Gen. Eiki Toto, War Minister
in the retiring cabinet, was COM
manded to form the new govern
ment He is long time admirer of
the German Army. His most recent
active service was with the Kwan-
tung army, Japan's powerful garri-
son in Manchukuo facing Siberia.
Competent observers considered
his appointment victory for Axis.
which has been pressing for more
active japanese support in the Euro
pean war.
Gen. TOTO Immediately took coun-
sci with his fellow generals as TO
his choice of ministers. Few Jap
anese doubted they would be mostly
generals and admirals Gen. TOTO
hoped to present the list to the En-
peror tomorrow about noon 10 pm.
Friday, E. S. t..
His consultations had a back
ground of press attacks on the
United States. typified by the COM
ment of Nichi Nichi, which declared
there was fundamental disagree
ment between Japan and the United
States" and that Japan is facing
rise or fall and a crisis never paral-
leled in her history"
Nevertheless. Domei quoted in
formed sources as saying. the new
cabinet will continue discussions
with the United States in an effort
to preserve peace.
To take part in the military, coun-
ellis the commander in chief OF
Japans huge army in China, Gen.
Shunroku Hata, was reliably re-
ported already to have reached
Toxic by plane. while Gen. Gen
Sugiyama, chief of the imperial gen.
eral staff: Gen Otozo Yamada. COM
mander of the home forces. and Gen.
Kenji Doihara. empire builder
extraordinary. consulted with the
Premier designate.
Domei, news agency with high
official connections. declared there
would be no fundamental change in
the imperial governments basic
policies-"d disposal of the China
affair and establishment of the
Greater East Asia co-prosperity
sphere"
(Japan's unwillingneSs to
abandon that program has been
reported to be the primary reason
for failure of Washington con-
versations in which Japan sought
an accord with the United
StatesD
Prince Fummaro Konoye. the re-
tiring Premier. and his foreign min
lister, Admiral Teijiro Toyoda, also
conferred with Gen. TOTO.
Japan has had many army
premiers, but not in recent times
has a war minister, general on
the active list, been promoted
directly to the premiership. 1t was
understood Gen. TOTO would be
raised to full generals rank tomor-
row and would continue to hold the
war portfolio.
Gen. Toto. Sc, is one of the young
est and most vigorous Of army
leaders, thorough soldier and son
of a soldier
He has been an open admirer of
German military methods since
service in Berlin as an attache in
1919 and declared as long ago as
1887 that Japan must be prepared
to fight China and Russia stimuli
.taneously."
Recommended by Elders.
Emperor Hlnohito entrusted Gen
TOTO with the task of forming a new
government on the recommended
tion of Japan'S elder statesmen to
Marquis Koichi KIDD, Lord Keeper
of the Privy Seal. They made their
decision at 234-hour conference.
Soon after Gen. TOTO was sum-