The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-01-07

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cided positively
on assaulting us for quite a con-
siderable length of time before
launching their initial raid. and
simply were stringing US along
until they were fully rsady TO
strike
Some American observers. how
ever. are very positive that the
islanders minds were dehnltely
made up during the entire perloo
following Frances fall. that tht
essential part of Ambassador
Kichisaburo Nomura's Job IN tins
country was to keep US fooled up
until the last minute and that
Saburu Kurusu. Tokos special
peace envoy" was sent TO us.
shortly IN advance Of the chosen
hours arrival to put the finishing
touches upon Nomura handiwork
Other spectators are of the
opinion that. while Toxic was de-
terrnlned to have what II wanted
and realized that we probably
would have to be fought for II. yet
the chances. were that II preferred
TO avoid an armed clash with US If
we could be argued into yielding
peaceably-in short, surrenderins
to EN-.
It's a fact that both Ambassa-
dor Nomura and convoy Kurusu
had long records Of at least osten'
sible ro-AmericanIsm Kurusu
even has an American wife.
II their countrymen bombed
Pearl Harbor and Honolulu with
out warning that pair in time TO
effect getaways from this side OF
the Pacific. they have about as
good a right as anybody to say a
mighty dirty trick was played on
'en.
Sacrifice?
OF course, perhaps they did know
what was coming and deliberately
sacrificed 'emseives by staying
here. in order not to arouse IAN.
kee suspicion by deeing
Anyone who's ever spent bit OF
time in Japan can't but have his
own theory.
The military caste are as bel.
ligerent as wildcats. but civilian
dom isn't unduly vicious. Indeed.
1t has sense enough to object to
the militarists' crazy ventures. but
no civilian in a responsible position
dares to express himself at all Wig
orously in opposition to military
plans. If he does. the miltarists
kill him.
There are a good many more
civilians than there are miitarists.
but the latter are a stable group
and they ACT while the civilians
are doing nothing but thinking
Now. there have been hints for
quite awhile that Jap businessmen
and officials IN the civil govern
ment didn't like the looks Of the
situation the army command has
been more and more involving Nip
pom in There also has been evil
dence that Mikado Hirohito SYM
pathized with the civtlian aggrega-
ton. Assuming that to have been
the case. 1t was quite TO have been
expected that the military bunch
would tell the emperor to shut UP.
else they'd butcher him. even If he
IS an alleged divinity AS for
civilandom generally. no attention
ever's paid to it
It's an explanation that would
account for supposedly pro-Ameri-
can Nomura and Kurusu. too.
Military Unconcerned
The militarists wouldn't care a
boot for Kurusus fix. for he isn't
one Of EN- Nomuras an admiral
it's true. but Jap naval officers
aren't in as good military stand.
ing as army officers. including the
aviatoral element Of EN-. Besides
" he genuinely was pro- American
1t would be quite in the cards for
the mllitarists 10 blacklist him as
a member Of their caste. even par
tally. as a navy man.
The shocking brutality OF the
Jap style Of campaigning is moth.
ing 70 be surprised at That. too.
Is OF the militarists dictauon. A