Evening star., 1944-07-25

OIolIIC III D6lCoIv Joy9.
Japanese Journalist
(The writer Of this article has
been Japanese journalist in
Washington for many years, rep
resentin0 the Osaka Mainichi
and Tokyo Nichi Nicti. Since
Pearl Harbor he has been using
his knowledge OF Japan and the
japanese language in connection
.tUith certain phases of the Amer
ican iUar effort. He knoics MANY
Jdpdnese statesmen tOeI, pnrttcu-
larly the former Premier, PRINCE
Konove, iDhoni he entertained In
the United States teU years
ago.
BY KIYOSHI X. KAWAKAMI,
North American Newspaper Alliance.
In approving the new cabinet
organized by Gen. Kuniaki Koiso,
Emperor Hirohito has followed the
political strategy adopted by Prince
Korloye in October. 194l, when
Konoye surrendered the premiership
to Gen. Hideki TOTO.
Then, Konoye said to TOTO: I'VE
have made all possible concessions
to militarist demands to keep up a
semblance Of national unity. We
can recede no further. We have
done our best In handling our dim
cult foreign problems which are in
reality your own creation. We have
done our best; If you think you can
do better, try it."
OF course, Konoye spoke In more
polite language, but his meaning
was clear. What he said was, in
effect, challenge addressed not
to TOTO alone, but to the clique of
which he was only member. Nor
was the challenge exclusively Ko-
noye's own--it was q challenge
shared by all leading civilian states
men.
Challenge Accepted.
TOTO accepted the challenge and
forthwith plunged Japan into the
war. Now. after two and one-half
years, he admits failure, apologies
to the nation and has retired to
the sideline.
This is not the kind Of apology
satisfactory to civilian statesmen
1t is Tojo's personal apology and is
by no means shared by the military
faction against which the civilian
challenge was aimed. Nor does TOTO
himself seem to repent in the least
the criminal blunder he committed
In dragging Japan into the war.
Civilian statesmen. If they still
uphold Konoye's challenge. must ex-
pect the militarists to see the war
through and assume entire respon-
sibility not only for the conduct OF
war but for the inevitable conse-
quences now staring Japan In the
face.
Piecing together fragmentary facts
which the militarists have permitted
to seep through the censorship, we
can form a fairly accurate idea of
what happened In Tokyo the last
several days.
Emperor Seeks Advice.
When TOTO rendered his resigna-
ton the Emperor consulted his i'm
mediate adviser, Marquis Koichi
KIDD, lord keeper of the privy seal.
KIDD Is on very intimate terms with
pripcs Knpovo YiIo ~ on,> c.u>i
into conference eight living Prime
Ministers since 1891 dncluding
Tojo). as we'll as the Privy Council.
OF the nine conferees five were
civilians while two, an admiral and
a general on the retired list, long
had been identified with civilian
statesmen. Only the remaining two
Gen. TOTO and Admiral Yonai, rep
resented the military and naval
cliques. t~ 1f|
If the civilian conferees expressed
themselves, as was likely, in favor
OF another militarist organizing q
new cabinet, that was entirely In
conformity to Konoye's line Of rea-
soning back in 1e41. Naturally, fol-
lowing the conference. the Emperor
commanded Gen. Koiso to form q
cabinet. Admiral Yonai was ordered
to cooperate with Koiso to make
the public believe that perfect har-
mony existed between the army and
navy.
But before Pearl Harbor 1t was
common knowledge that the army
had no love to lose for Yonai. who
had blocked the army's plan for an
alliance with Germany in 1899
Perhaps this was all the greater
reason why Yonai was asked to CO.
operate with Koiso to keep I'D q
pretense Of army-navy harmony.
New Cabinet Is Army Show.
Thus the new cabinet Is essen
TALLY an army show. viii this
cabinet see the war through, take
responsibility for the approaching
defeat and an unconditional sur
render, and for the most humiliat-
ing peace to be imposed upon
Japan? Not likely. Before long
Koiso. too, will shed crocodile tears
admit his inability, and ask civilian
statesmen to take the reins OF gov
ernment. Such always has been the
army's trick. 1t will be fatal mis-
take for civilian statesmen to lend
ear to such militarist pieadings
They should stick to the position
they took q little less than three
years ago.
Regardless of the bold front still
put out by the militarists, they know
Of course, that Japan,s doom is
sealed. Even the populace, long
kept ignorant by the military censor
of the Axis debacle in Europe and
the crumbling Of the Japanese de-
fense in the Pacific. now fully real
ICES that the nation Is in for its
worst licking, for the bombings OF
Yawata and Sasebo by American
Super Fortresses have brought the
war even more forcibly home to the
people than Japanese defeats al
SaiDan Or Guam I 5O0 r1oiles MO u