Evening star., 1941-03-15
Momentous Changes
|Are Predicted for
Japan on April ;
Creation Of Single Party
And Control Of Busic
Industries Forecast
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
TOXIC, March 15.-The newspa-
per Asahi predicted today that mo-
mentous political and governmental
changes would occur in Japan April
3, and reliable sources said possible
developments included establish
ment of a single party and govern
ment control of all basic industries.
Premier Prince Fumimaro Ko-
noye, the newspaper said, would
head great East Asia League"
with a program described as dis
tinctively Japanese, but modelled on
the totalitarian systems developed
by Italy and Germany, Japan's axis
partners.
Prince Konoye is head of the I'M
perial Rule Assistance Associat ton,
and well-informed sources declared
a new single party might stem from
that organization, which now is said
to be undergoing drastic reorganiza-
ton. Members entertaining radical
theories are being weeded out or
forced into minor roles in favor of
more totalitarian-minded members.
Movement Began Last August.
Reports on an imminent change
IN JapanS governmental structure
have circulated for some time. AS
long ago as last August Premier Ko-
noye instructed his planners to
work out a non-party system to
unite the total energies of the
state and the people" That was be-
fore Japan linked herself to the
axis.
All political parties in Japan had
just been abolished and the Premier
struck specifically at the single party
system of totalitarianism, but ex-
perienced observers said at the time
ne apparently was trying to central
lze power without adopting the
totalitarian label Now, however. the
one-party system of FasciSm and
Nazi-iSm seems in prospect.
In January the japanese election
system was revised to place the en-
phasis on the family head and mill
tary service rather than on the
democratic system of UNIVERSAL man
hood suffrage.
Reliable sources said it was prob
able the government would take
charge of all basic industries as it
has the tobacco industry, which now
is government controlled and
operated monopoly.
konoye to Remain Premier.
Two possibilities of cabinet changes
were discussed: Cd A reduced mem
bership to streamline it on a war
time basis, or % appointment of
additional and financial leaders who
exercise great power outside the
government and who are not always
friendly to governmental policies.
In any event, high sources said,
Prince Konoye undoubtedly would
remain as Premier.
The Imperial Rule Assistance
Association" Asahi said in discuss
ing the Great East Asia League"
has. decided on the fundamental
policy of merging the various Asia
development organizations into one
group, developing it into an organ
serving as the vanguard of a peo-
pies movement to establish the
Great East Asia co-prosperity
sphere on a solid basis"
The newspaper said it was con-
sidered possible that the organiza-
ton would be able to respond to
similar movements about to arise
in other friendly powers within the
common prosperity sphere and
maintain intimate contact with
them and also guide them"
Will Get Subsidiary.
The new body" Ashia added
will receive government subsidy
and collect fees from members, thus
developing a brisk peoples move
ment. This is worth special atten-
ton"
This apparently indicated that
fees would be levied on virtually the
entire 1opulace to carry on one po-
litical party.
The Inauguration ceremony of
the Great East Asia League is ex-
pected to be held April on the
anniversary of the Emperor Jim
mus DEATH" Ashai said.
Jimmu was Japan's first Emperor
and the anniversary Of his death
customarily Is q holiday.