Evening star., 1941-07-18
Cabinet Formed,
japanese Ready
ToAct Speedily
Army Navy Weight
Regime; Admiral Is
Foreign Minister
Rxfhe AssocIated Press.

By me Associated Press.
TOXIC, July 13-Prince Fumi-
marc Konoye today formed a
streamlined cabinet with half its
members generals or sdmirals and
declared that the empires policy
for coping with the interna tional
situation already has been fixed and
1t now remains for us 10 put it into
practice with decision and speed"
What action this portended the
premier did not disclose, but in a
statement to the nation he called
for unity because with the rapid
changes that are taking place" in
world affairs the mission of our
country is growing heavier and
heavier"
Baron Kiichiro Hiranuma. former
premier, was appointed vice premier
Vice Admiral Teiliro Toyoda, who
became Foreign Minister. said
Japan's foreign policy might have 70
oe adapted 10 the day-to-day inter-
national situation
Toyoda's Policy Unknown.
Little is known of the foreign pol
icy outlook of Toyoda. successor 10
Yosuke Matsuoka. who concluded
the neutrality pact with Soviet
Russia after aligning japanese pol
icy with the Axis while Foreign Min
lister in the preceding Konoye gov
ernment.
Washington diplomats ex-
pressed the belief today that the
appointment of Toyoda preSaged
cautious policy for Japan inde-
pendent Of Axis influence. In
London a well-posted political
source declared that at first
glance the japanese cabinet re-
vision appears 10 swing away
from Axis influence toward a
purely japanese policy
With the earnest support of a
hundred million Japanese. Prince
konoye's message said. Il intend 10
do everything in my power TO ac-
compllSh the great ideal on which
the foundation of our empire was
based by overcoming all difficulties
that may lie IN my country's path "
War Minister Speaks.
The new government contains
three admlrals and four generals
and was described authoritativelv as
a wartime cabinet of concentrated
power. Domei, the Japanese news
agency, noted that at its first session
the only speaker besides Prince
konoye was the war minister. Gen.
Eiki Toio
To the new post of vice
premier Prince Konoye named Baron
kiichlro Hiranuma. a former
premier. home minister in the re-
tlrlng cabinet and prominently
Identified with totalitarian phases
of its program.
After the cabinets first meeting
the Premier declared that the funda-
mental policies of the country were
unchanged Some informed persons
assumed this to mean that the
alliance with Germany and italy,
the neutrality pact with Soviet
Russia and the Greater East Asia
co-prosperity sphere" policy-callins
for an extension of japanese dom
ination in Southeastern Asia-all re-
manned valid.
If this view is sound it would
mean that Japans next move
probably would be southwark,
perhaps in French Indo-China.D
The Chinese press at Hong
Kong said the chief motive of the
reorganization was to tear up the
neutrality agreement with Rus
sia)
Compared TO the previous ad-
mlnlstration, the new cabinet of
Premier Konoye offers few changes
in personnel. if not in makeup to
convey the idea that any drastic re-
organization has taken place within
the directing force of Japan's ma
tional government SAID Domei.
japanese news agency"
Cautious Policy Forecast.
The japanese press forecast a
considered cautious foreign policy
and the Toxic stock market seemed
unaffected by the cabinet changes.
Toyoda had been minister of
commerce and industry in the sec
ond konoye cabinet. which resigned
TWO days ago. He took that post
after reshuffle last April 4 which
lifted him from the post of vice
tSee JAPAN paoe Al