Evening star., 1941-07-17
Member Of the Associated Press.
Crisis in japan

The sudden and unexplained
resignation of the Konoye cabinet
emphasizes the sharp cleavageS with
in official Japanese circles regarding
foreign policy. When the reasons for
the present cabinet crisis become
clearer, the world may see the eX-
planation of Japan's mystifying
quiet during the past month. The
outbreak of war between Germany
and Soviet Russia sent the Japanese
leaders into protracted huddle.
Well it might, for this unexpected
event cut to the very roots of Japa-
nese foreign policy and rendered
fresh decisions imperative.
Japan is a member of the Berlin
Rome Axis, and her Axis partners
had consistently urged her to ag-
gresSive action southwark. Japan
had taken long steps in this direction
through her interventions in French
1ndo-China and her yelled protector
ate over Trailand. But she had re-
coiled from risking war with Brit
ain and America by striking at the
Netherlands Indies, the rich colonial
empire for which most japanese i'm
perialists so ardently hankered
One of the main reasons for this
reluctance was her fear of Russia.
Last April, JapanS pro-AXis Foreign
Minister, Yosuke Matsuoka, thought
he had safeguarded his country
against Russia when he negotiated
a neutrality treaty with Stain on
his way home from conferences with
Hitler and MuSsolini. But this be-
came an embarrassment when Stain
and Hitler engaged in mortal COM
bat. At once, old japanese ambitions
against Russia's maritime provinces
and Siberia revived Still begged
down in China, Japan obviously was
not strong enough to move simul-
taneously northward and southwark
The imperialists were thus divided
in their desires. They were resolved
to make major move at this SEEM
ingly auspicious moment. But in
which direction? A choice had to be
made.
The weight of evidence seems
to show that RuSsia's Far Eastern
domain is too tough nut to crack,
at least for the moment. But there
also ie .v;Japoo +bot Iop.n cbri,,Ec
from challenging Britain and Ameri-
ca by stroke at the Netherlands
Indies or Singapore.
However, there is a middle way.
Japan already has gained firm foot
holds in Indo-China and large
measure of influence over Thailand.
If the Japanese now proceed to close
their grip on both countries, they
may consider it unlikely that either
Britain or America would openly op-
pose them. Once in control of Indo-
China and Thailand, Japan would
be strategically placed to spring
upon Singapore, the Netherlands
Indies, and even the Philippines
much more easily than hitherto.
The attack could be deferred until
an Axis triumph in the west rendered
1t feasible. Meanwhile, Japan would
not have taken the irreparable step
of directly challenging the English
speaking powers. So, if they, rather
than the Axis partners, ultimately
should win the war, Japan would be
strategically placed to bargain with
the victors and make a settlement
without too much loss of face.
That seems to have been the line
of argument employed by moderate
imperialists like Baron Hiranuma
and navy chiefs as against the more
aggressive faction headed by Matsu-
Okla and some of the army leaders.
If the moderates now have their way,
and some observers believe the cabi-
net shake-up points in that direc-
ton, Japan may move strongly into
1ndo-China and Thailand-but no
further, until the battles of Russia
and the Atlantic have been con-
cluded.