Evening star., 1941-10-16
MiIiturists Press
For Move Against
Hurd-Hit Russia
BY the Associated Press.


government resigned tonight, admit.
ting its inability to agree on the
great issues confronting the empire
Failure to reach an accord with
the United States and growing mill
tary pressure for action in the crisis
arising from German successes
against Russia were strongly indi-
Gated as major factors in the min
istrys fall.
(Japan is still negotiating with
the United States in an attempt
to maintain peace in the Pacific,
Mai. Gen. Kiyotomi Okamoto was
quoted today in Domei broad
cast, but the japanese people
should be fully prepared for the
worst in case the talks fall
Premier Prince Fumimaro Konoye
presented en- bloc the resignation OF
the cabinet, his third, to Emperor
Hirohito amid increasing press agi-
tation for an end to efforts to con-
ciliate the United States.
(Konoye had let it be known
he would not take responsibility
for break with America
More Vigorous" Policy Likely.
Predictions were made in informed
quarters that the crisis might pro-
duce more vigorous foreign policy,
designed to combat what the Japa-
nese call the "ABCD encirclement"-
military measures of America, Brit
ain, China and the Dutch East
Indies.
Informed observers expressed be-
lief that the cabinets fall was
linked with an unfavorable turn in
talks in Washington looking toward
lessening Of Japanese American ten
sion.
1t was pointed out that a feverish
series of conferences and imperial
audiences began here almost i'm
mediately after the return to Wash
ington last week of Kaname
Wakasugi, japanese Minister.
A crescendo came just after
Washington dispatches told of a
meeting between Wakasugi and Un-
dersecretary of State Welles, in
which 1t was understood both sides
laid all their cards on the table.
Wakasugi had been recalled to
Toxic in August to make a full re-
port on the American situation and
when he returned. by way of Mex
leo. 1t was reported he carried i'm
portant instructions.
Meeting Called Tomorrow.
The Emperor asked Konoye to
continue in Office until a successor
could be named and the Premier
agreed. He summoned his colleagues
for a meeting at l pm. tomorrow
Q1 pm. Thursday, E. S. t. to con-
slider the next move.
The resignation followed several
days of intensive consultations
among the empires highest officials,
over some of which the Emperor
himself presided. Until tonight
there had been no official intima-
ton that a cabinet crisis was immi-
nent. (Although yesterday it was
pointed out that the prominent part
taken in the conferences by the
Lord Privy Seal, Marquis Koichi
KIDD, indicated big changes)
The resignation came shortly
after foreign office announcement
that the staff of the japanese En-
bassy in Moscow and other japanese
had left the German threatened
Russian capital for an undisclosed
destination. 1t was said that SIM
liar Withdrawals had been urged BY
the Russians on all other Embassies
and Legations there, so Japan's &C
ton was not the result of isolated
circumstances.
U. S. Relations at Crossroads.
The background of the resignation
also included japanese naval Of
f1cer's declaration that Japanese
United States relations were at a
crossroads where they might turn to
war.
The officer, Capt. Hideo Hiraide,
director of naval intelligence, speak
ing last night at Kyoto, envisaged
the possibility of a sea campaign
against japanese trade and of
bomber raids upon the Japanese
homeland.
The newspaper Asahi took a SINH
lar view, declaring differences be-
tween the United States and Japan
were producing crisis which, If not
arrested, would lead inevitably to
a clash.
In case of a trans-Pacific war,
Hiraide said, guerrilla operations
would be undertaken for the destruc-
ton of trade, plus air raids against
national territory by some naval
force"
He said some bombers might
strike from A, B, G, D bases near
Japan, but declared that the great
est loss which could be inflicted at
sea" would be several times less than
that done to British shipping by the
Germans"
Far East Bases Feared.
THE United States will neces-
sarily seek compensation for as
sistance to Soviet Russia" he said.
There is no telling what results this
compensation would produce in
Japan"
The United States might demand
or receive Russian Far Eastern bases
in exchange for supplies and this
would be of serious concern to ia
pan, he added.
Trustworthy advices reaching
the Associated Press last week
said Konoye had let it be known
that he would not take RESPONSE
bility for breach with America.
He and other Japanese leaders
were known to have placed hopes
in the exploratory" talks in
Washington which followed the
sending of personal, still unpub-
nshed message by Konoye to
President Roosevelt.
MANY Japanese considered the
(See TOXIC, Page A-4D