Evening star., 1941-10-10
New Crisis With u. ),
May Spur Japanese
To Fresh Conquests
Present Government MAY
Be Wrecked and Army
Get Tighter Grip
By GLENN BABB.
Associated Press Stan Writer


pire's destinies more completely in
military hands and open a new
phase of her program of conquest
according to trustworthy advices
reaching the Associated Press in
New York.
The Japanese have felt that fol
the last six weeks there has been an
encouraging truce in the long drawn
steadily worsening friction with
America. They date the truce from
the delivery late in August of a per-
sonal message from Premier Prince
Fumimaro Konoye to President
Roosevelt. They indicate that hopes
they placed in that gesture have
been disappointed and that the
truce is nearing an end They blame
American unreadineSs to match that
gesture of conciliation.
Persons in close touch with devel-
opments in Japan and able to draw
on information not permitted to pass
the censor give this picture:
Japanese leaders fear a break with
the United States is impending
Premier Konoye has let it be known
that he will not accept responsibility
II this comes. If his effort to come
to some sort of understanding, even
a transitory and superficial one, with
America fails, if there is not early
improvement in trans-Pacific rela-
tions, the Konoye cabinet will fall.
Minami May Become Premier.
1t will be replaced by one of gen.
erals and admirals or at least one
even more under the domination of
the Greater East Asia" Axis bound
military clique than ever before.
Names of likely successors to
Konoye already are being discussed,
among them Gen. Jlro Minami, who
was War Minister when the program
of conquest began in Manchuria 10
years ago, and others of like back
ground.
Prince Konoye is reported to have
asked rather hopelessly, what good
did it do me to change the cabinet?'
referring to his reconstruction of the
government just three months ago
to get rid of Foreign Minister
Yosuko Matsuoka, who was held
chiefly responsible for the alliance
with the Axis and the neutrality
pact with Russia.
This was a move to regain a meas
urable of diplomatic freedom Of
action, to permit Japan to take
stock Of the world trade and see
whether something could be done to
avoid a clash with the United
States.
Prince Konoye made such an effort
when he sent his letter to Mr..
Roosevelt. It's contents have re-
manned secret, but the japanese set
much store by it. Most of them
really believed there was a chance
of coming to some kind Of terms.
No such hopes were expressed in
Washington. Americans felt that
q reconciliation of their declared
policy of about aid to Britain, Rus
sia and to China. and Japan's pro-
gram of conquest in alliance with
Germany and Italy called for fun
OdInSDLdl CO1lCcSS1oliS Vic ooP PaAASoS
were not ready to make.
Calm on Surface.
But for the last six weeks the
President has omitted specific men,
ton of Japan from his verbal at
tacks on the Axis. Ambassador
Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura was
known to be continuing "explana-
tory" talks with Secretary Hull. On
the surface there was calm, although
mutual freezing of assets halted
trade between the two countries
and trans-Pacific steamship services
were suspended.
The storm clouds seem to be
gathering again. For one thing, the
successes of the German Army
against Russia are provoking new
elamor for action by the japanese
militarists. They are preparing a
mighty arm in Manchukuo, appar-
emily for a drive into Siberia. II
the Russian armies in the west COL
lapse they are expected to insist
that an unparalleled opportunity to
end forever the Russian menace in
the east must be seized. And a
failure to reach understanding with
America will strengthen this in
sistence.
The present Konoye government
and the masses of Japan want no
trouble with the United States. But
the governments position, with its
own militarists and the Germans
both pressing for action, is nearly
desperate.
The German interest is to keep
Japan and America hostile to each
other, bring them to war If possible.
Some of the Reich's ablest diplo-
mats are concentrating in the Orient
to promote this. Whether Japan
lunges at Singapore and the Neither
lands Indies in the south or Siberia
IN the north. the break with Amer
ica will be nearer.
Measures Taking Effect.
American and British economic
measures against Japan are begin
ming to take effect and economic
experts believe they will produce
progressively more hardships in the
next two or three months. One
Toxic newspaper says Japan is
choking" has had no imports of
oil or steel for many weeks. Foreign
commerce, except that with the
conquered areas of the Asiatic con-
tinent. is practically finished.
The winter just ahead promises
70 be the worst in memory for the
Japanese masses. The summer rice
crop was damaged by typhoons and
floods. Quantities of other food
crops have rotted In the sodden
fields. The government has found
It necessary to assure the people
there will be enough to eat but to
urge them not to depend on rice but
switch to potatoes and coarser
grains.
Fuel Is scarce. No private auto
mobiles may be operated. Clothing
Is more shoddy. Persons returning
to Toxic after a few months alb
sence express astonishment at the
poor quality Of goods in the shop,
thA shoh ohhiar n,,tu-orI