Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-28

so far to feel its full effects.
Mr.. ShigemitSu has been hanging
back in the YoShida-led campaign
to prepare public opinion for re-
armament. But recently he agreed
with Mr.. Yoshida that the consti-
tutional provisions barring war do
allow development of defense forces.
and should be revised to permit
regular military establishment again.
There is always a possibility that
MI. Yoshida's Liberals, the Progress
Sives and other conservative groups
might merge into one party. If that
happened and Mr.. Yoshida were
ready to resign. MI Shigemitsu
would be leading candidate to
head the new party and thus become
Premier.
Economists Emerge
But there are other strong con.
tenders. Among these are the pres
,ent governor of the Bank of Japan,
HiSato Ichimada, and a predecessor
in the same job. TanZan IShibaShi,
ex-purgee. With the country NOV
ing into a stage where economic
problems will be paramount an
economist of the standing of an
Ichimada OF an Ishibashi will have
good chance of taking over the
helm.
Hanging in the background is an
other conservative who bowed out
while Macarthur was proconsul. He
Is Hitoshi Ashida, onetime Premier
during the occupation who was
forced to resign in the last big
wave of scandals. The situation
was similar to today's shipbuilding
imbroglio, except that 1t was the
electric and building contractors
who then we're accused of making
the kickbacks. With Japan under
occupation, Mr.. Ashida was forced
to resign.
Mr.. Ashida claims credit for re-
writing the war-renunciation clause
Of the constitution back in 1916 so
that Japan now can build up her
defense forces. He hopes that this
will stand him in good stead little
later. when rearmament possibly
could become crucial issue. II
some kind of deadlock among con-
sentative candidates for the premier.
ship were to emerge, Mr.. Ashida
might be logical compromise
choice. He still has ambition. In q
recent trip to the United States he
made constant news copy for Japa-
nese correspondents here, loudly
advocating swift rearmament of his
country.
Scont Hope for Reds
There is little chance that COM
munism will get a foothold very
soon in Japan. Authorities are
moving against the Reds with some
Of the old-time efficiency. A law to
outlaw the party is in the works.
The chief hotbed of communism.
the Japan Teachers Union, is being
broken up. So is its offshoot, the
students federation. If there are
any strong Red candidates about,
they are TOO young to be serious
contenders for the Yoshida mantle.
Presumably before they get old
enough to do much damage they
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politically or physically.
There is much more danger from
the other extreme, the far right.
Mr.. Yoshida is especially fearful
that the old militarists will try to
make comeback. He has scrupu-
lousy avoided taking any of the
depurged admirals or generals back
into his government.
But the rlghtlStS are again active
on the fringes. One of their leaders
is Nobusuke Kishi also known as
ShinSuke Kishi A former Minister
of Commerce and Industry Tin l94D
Mr.. Kishi is best known as an eco
nomic planner under the totalita-
rian governments of the 1930S. AS a
young man he was director of tho
Industry Department of the Man
chukuo government and befriended
Gen. TOTO when the latter was COM
manding the old KWantung army in
Manchuria.
Now Mr.. KiShi is identified with
Osaka business interests. 1t is from
them that he gets his financial back
ing, it is believed.
Right Wing Merger
Rightists are now in the process
OF merging their forces in Japan.
and Mr.. Kishi is said to be one OF
the prime movers. The rightists ex-
clude both Americans and pro-
Soviets from their ranks. So far,
however. they have no hot" ideo-
logical theory to, fiout, except the old
Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity
Sphere.
Like the Communists. Mr.. Kishi
and his rightists are not considered
immediate threats. Their star could
rise much faster than the Reds,
however, and possibly within the
next five years. 1t is entirely posi-
BILE that they might capture the
leadership of one of the large con-
sentative parties in that time.
The Socialists. badly split for sew
eral years. are not expected to DO
strong enough in the next five years
to bring up a likely challenger for
the premiership. Their best bet for
the 196Os seems to be Hiroo Wada,
now in his mid-50s. He is a neu-
tralist in international affairs. much
on the order of Pandit Nehru. He
has had considerable government
experience in economic affairs, once
as Agriculture Minister and then
as Economic Sterilization Board
chief in Japan's steep inf1ationary
period. He is comparatively we'll
known among the japanese rank
and file.
Three principal factors will affect
the choosing of a successor to Mr..
YoShida in Japan. First is the
prospect for conservative merger.
the second is the attitude Of the
people toward rearmament, and the