The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-05-01
Observations
Non Militarist
in Jap Cabinet
Proves Puzzling
BY Charles p. Stewart

NEWS OF TIE EAECJ llON by
the Japanese Of several OF Amer
ica's captured Doolittle air raiders
over Tokyo a trfle more than
wear ago was not more than =
hours beyond reports OF cabinet
shakeup in Nippou's capital which
at first was interpreted by the
United Nations officialdom as pos
sibly a placatory move on the part
ot the Mikados government IN the
democracies' direction.
II is that way with Japan. Its
varying policies do not make sense.
Or. maybe, IL is true that the Is
landers did murder some Of their
Yankee ayiatorial war prisoners
and then considerably altered their
policy in the course OF years de-
yelopments.
The difficulty in reckoning with
them is that they are split into two
groups, working al cross purposes
"A blood thirsty military group that
really enjoys human butchery, and
quite a. civilized group that would
like TO he internationally respecta-
bic il the militarists would permit
them to be- This latter group is IN
a big majority. but, II its spokes-
men say anything, the mllltarlslS
ssssssinste them,
II is an old story, but Just now
n is illustrated rather conspicuous
~.
Killing war prisoners Is dlile
characteristic of the Japanese mll.'
tsrists.
The cabinet change is more pug
tling.
Premier Hidek TOTO vas an ap-
propriate selection. for year ago
or tberea bouts. He is militarist -
a general. and, believe il or not, so
cially a nice enough guy. have
met him. He is OF the samural'
though. As such, slaughtering war
prisoners would he right down his
alley.
For foreign minister, Premier
Toto selected MasayuN Tam, a loo
per cent warrior, OF the meanest
Japanese faction-a dandy tighter
but an indiscriminate killer, regard
less OF international comracts or
anything.
But now It appears, within a mat
ter OF days, that militaristic Pre-
rnier Toto has Jumped militarlstlc
Foreign Minister TAM overheard in
favor OF new foreign chief, Mamo-
ru Shigemitsu. a longtime anti
militarst, for many years a Jap
diplomat IN the Occidental world.
and long noted as being very friend
~ with Occidentals.
Now. It would not be surprising
for Premier TOTO to pick Shigemit-
su, II Toto has a trend in the demo-
cratic direction
But where does such a trend on
Tojo's part originate?
The theory is that TOTO foresees
cracking UP o. the European AXIS
powers and wants a competent
hand 10 negotiate with them.
1t would be a reasonable PROPOSE
ton enough IL Oriental diplomacy
were rational, like SPANS kind OF
neutrality, but il does not III the
miiltaristic Japanese brand. Their
militaristic idea is TO commit sui
eide IL necessary.
There is another line OF reason
ing, though: Are the Japs trying TO
line things up with Russia Newly
appointed Jap Foreign Minister
Shigemitsu would now be available
for such negotiations.
Nevertheless, Premier TOTO would
be a queer Jap to initiate it.
The Tokyo so-called government
amounts TO nothing. The Mikado
has no authority. He is just an ex-
preston. less even, II possible, than
a figurehead.
Russia, too, as previously re
marked may enter into the Jap
complication.
| would gamble that at the pres
ent juncture, the Japs must wish
that they had not killed those Doc
little flyers.
II is possible the Japs might Ike
TO make terms. Those civilized folk
among them would be glad TO, any.
way, but it is not propituous nov,
certainly.
The thing is 10 deal with the civil
lied element among them. disre-
gardiug the crazy ones. Possibly
the respectable crew are worth talk.
ing business with.