Military Coup in Tokio

Evening Star, Issue 22274, 27 February 1936, Page 11

Military Coup in Tokio

STRICT CENSORSHIP IN FORCE Statesmen Assassinated PRIME MINISTER A VICTIM LONDON, February 26. Messages from Shanghai and Peking report that a mili- • tary coup occurred in Tokio, where the strictest censorship is being observed. No details are yet-known, but it is understood that several important Japanese politicians have been assassinated, including the Prime Minister (Admiral Okada). All attempts to communicate with Tokio by telephone have failed. The Prime Minister's residence, the Ministry of the Interior, and the police headquarters are reported to have been seized by the ■ military forces. The stock exchanges in Tokio and Osaka have suspended business. Other messages state that martial law has been proclaimed in Tokio. ■ (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

ENGINEERED BY YOUNG OFFICERS FATE Of PREMIER UNCERTAIN SHANGHAI, February 26. It is learned that the coup was carried out at dawn by 3,000 men comprising the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the Ist Division, stationed at Tokio, who seized the officers previously men-

MR TAKAHASHI ONLY WOUNDED NAVY TO MAINTAIN ORDER TOKIO, February 26. (Received February 27, at 10 a.m.) The War Office announces that Mr Takahashi was not killed, but wounded. General Watanke (Inspector-Gene-ral of Military Education) was killed. The fate of Count Makino (delegate to the Versailles Conference and at present Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal) is unknown. The First and Second Naval Squadrons have been ordered to Tokio and Osaka respectively to maintain order. The country generally is quiet. The authorities claim that the situation is well in hand. Censorship is still rigorously imposed on’newspapers and broadcasting. BUSINESS INTERRUPTED NO DANGER TO BRITISH SUBJECTS LONDON, February 26. (Received February 27, at 9.30 a.m.) Short-wave broadcasts from Tokio, picked up at Manila and elsewhere,, do. not mention the disorders, and have confined their descriptions to the snowstorms sweeping: Japan. All markets in, Tokio are reported to be closed. Steamer sailings have been cancelled and foreigners detained. Reliable reports from Shanghai state that the rebels used machine guns in the streets. Tokio is at present filled with troops, but all is quiet and there is no danger to British subjects. The Bank of Japan has suspended business. . ’ The Japanese Embassy in'London has received the following communique from Tokio:—“ A coup d’etat, engineered y certain soldiers of the First Division, has resulted in the assassination of Baron Saito, Admiral Okada, and Mr Takahashi. A state of alarm has been established. The Tokio situation will soon be under control. The exchanges in Tokio are closed, but the banks are remaining open.” DISTURBING REPORTS NO DOUBT OF MINISTERS’ DEATHS LONDON, February 26. (Received February 27, at 9 a.m.) The Japanese Embassy in London has been inundated with inquiries, but has received no direct news from Tokio of the military coup d’etat. . Reliable reports from another source indicate that there is no doubt that Baron Saito, Admiral Okada, and Mr Takahashi have all been murdered, and it seems certain that Mr Goto was also a victim. They were all opposed to the more violent exponents of Japanese Imperialism and favoured a moderate policy in foreign affairs. Other reports from Shanghai and elsewhere state that General Watanaki (Inspector-General of Military Education) was seriously injured. General Kawashima (the War Minister) and Admiral Suzuki escaped. CITY IN TURMOIL REVOLT LED BY UNKNOWN OFFICER LONDON, February 26. (Received February 27, at 9 a.m.) Mr Hirota (Minister of Foreign 'Affairs) sent a message to the Japanese Consul at Manila stating that he was unharmed. Other Foreign Office reports emphasise that the Government has the situation under control. The assassins, led by an unknown officer, Captain Nonaka, seized strategic points in the city. Breaking loose when actually marching to the railway station, where they had been ordered to entrain for Manchuria, they occupied the principal Government offices and residences and assassinated statesmen.

tioned, after overcoming the sentries. Units of the Imperial Guard Division have been ordered 'to evict the' rebels. -The fate of the Prime Minister (Admiral Okacla) and the Minister of the Interior (Mr Goto) is uncertain. It is presumed that they are at least prisoners. An unconfirmed report states that Mr Goto was assassinated. The coup is believed to have been engineered by the younger officers of the Ist Division, which was. recently ordered to Manchuria. They were issued with ball instead of blank cartridges. MR GOTOJUNINJUREO APPOINTED ACTING PRIME MINISTER V: - ■ LONDON, February 26. (Received February 27, at 10 a.m.) The Japanese Embassy in London announces that Mr Goto was uninjured, and has been appointed Acting Prime Minister. NON-INTERFERENCE SOVIET UNION'S POLICY MOSCOW, February 26. (Received February 27, at 10 a.m.) The Soviet is closely watching developments. Nevertheless, it declines to comment, the Foreign Office Spokesman declaring: “ We adhere to a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.” CASUALTY LIST EIGHTY KILLED DR WOUNDED SHANGHAI, February 26. (Received February 27, at 10 a.m.) It is reported that 80 were killed'or wounded in the fighting accompanying the revolt. The Emperor spent several hours conferring with leading statesmen. MORE DIFFICULT CRISIS PROBLEM FOR THE LEAGUE GENEVA, February 26. (Received February 27, at 10 a.m.) League circles are apprehensive that the revolt will encourage extremists in Outer Mongolia. It is realised that the RussianJapanese, tension will place the Abyssinian conflict in the background and confront the League with a far more difficult crisis. ,

Riots and incendiarism followed, with the • mutiny of 12,000 iroops. The

crack Imperial Guard was ordered to stop the revolt, which was possibly inspired by the success in the elections of the party hostile to Fascism and the armies’ reactionary conservatism. The militarists have long sought to make the army and navy solely responsible to the Emperor, thus paving the way for a militarist dictatorship. APPREHENSION IN CHINA FEARS OF RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR LONDON, February 20. (Received February 27, at 9.30 a.m.) The Chinese Government at Nanking fears that the result of the revolt will bo the entrenchment of the militarists in power, with the consequent “ stronger ” policy in Outer Mongolia, where the army leaders have long been eager to take the bit between their teeth. It is generally feared that a RussoJapanese war is now unavoidable, and may break out in the spring. Two British Air Force flying boats arrived at Shanghai on a goodwill flight to Japan, but are postponing their departure. It is reported in Shanghai that the aims of the rebels include the abolition of Parliament and file restoration of the feudal rights of the aristocracy. COMMENT IN AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT CANBERRA, February ,27. (Received February 27, at 11.4 p a.m.) The Prime Minister (Mr Lyons) expressed deep regret at the report of the assassinations in Tokio and the loss of distinguished statesmen. Sir Henry Gullett, Minister in' Charge of Trade Treaties, said : “It is not feared that the treaty which is being negotiated between Japan' and Australia will be affected by the Japanese coup, which is exceedingly bad news.”CHANGE Of FOREIGN POLICY UNLIKELY HO QUESTION OF WARLIKE INITIATIVE LONDON, February 26. (Received February 27, at 11 a.m.) ' The Japanese Embassy in London states'that the coup is ufalikely to involve a change of foreign policy. There is no question of Japan taking a warlike initiative against Russia. On the contrary, the work of the Russo-Jap-anese Mixed Frontier Commission should not even Abe affected. Mr Eden, replying to Major, Attlee’s request to inform, the House of Commons of the situation, stated that the Ambassador in Tokio reported that groups of young officers attacked leading, statesmen and officials. 1 According to this : report, Admiral Okada, Baron Saito, and Mr Takahashi were killed and General Watanko wounded. The Bank of Japan had suspended business and troops were on' guard at public buildings and official residences. Mr Eden added that there was no information whether any arrests : had been made, or whether British interests were endangered. WAR OFFICE STATEMENT (Received February,27, at 11 a.m.) The War Office has . issued a statement that several young officers at 5 a.m. attacked their , residences and killed Admiral Okada, General Watanbe, and searched for Count Makino. They failed to find him, and then attacked the homes of Admiral Suzuki and Mr Takahashi. They .declared that senior statesmen had joined the financial clique, which was damaging the national policy. Therefore they had decided to eliminate them and direct the nation’s destiny to its proper path. Other reports state that the conspirators distributed pamphlets signed by Captains Nonaka and Ando declaring that the Government was drifting away from the spirit of Japan and usurping the Emperor’s prerogatives. Instances of this anti-Japanese trend were the signing of the 1930 London Naval Treaty, and the dismissal of General Mayaki. The rebels also attacked the office of the ‘ Asahi SHimbun ’ and destroyed the type. MARKET REACTION LONDON, February 26. (Received February 27, at 11 a.m.) Japanese bonds fell sharply, though there was little selling. The Far Eastearn news depressed the markets generally. NATION AGHAST AT NEWS CAPITAL UNDER MARTIAL LAW TOKIO February 26. (Received February 27, at 1.30 p.m.) Japan, except for its fanatical revolutipnaries, stood aghast when the news broke of the military insurrection, culminating in the assassination of three of its chief statesmen and injury to others after premeditated attacks by 3,000 troops of the Third Infantry Regiment of the,First Division, under the leadership of Captains Nonaka and Ando. . The capital is under martial law. General Kashii has been appointed Military Governor. Censorship has been imposed. The gendarmerie and police are operating to enforce order after 10,000 troops of the Iniperial Guard cornered those groups of revolutionary soldiers who, armed with machine guns, are still holding out in the police headquarters. Tlie Government may await reinforcements before attempting to overcome them. .

" CONDITION OF INEQUALITY " MUTINEERS CRITICISE OTHER POWERS LONDON, February 26. (Received February 27, at 1 p.m.) Mr Takahashi’s son. in New York has received news of his father’s death. The Japanese Embassy in London cannot confirm this. It states that the mutineers also attacked the offices of the ‘ Asahi Shimbun ’ newspaper, where the type and machinery were destroyed. Other sources state that Madame Saito was wounded during the attack on her husband. The soldiers mimeographed .their manifesto and circulated it among all newspaper offices, whom they additionally informed that, if the condition of inequality imposed by other Powers upon- Japan was permitted to continue, Japan’s relations toward China, Russia, England, and America would become explosive. CONFLICTING REPORTS BERLIN, February 26. (Received- February 27, at 1 p.m.) The Japanese Embassy insists that the assassinations do not represent a military putsch, but were merely an isolated, unauthorised action by young officers. Other reports from Shanghai declare that the entire army is behind the coup, and consequently no action will be taken against the assassins. EMPEROR'S ORDER TROOPS TO TAKE CHARGE SINGAPORE, February'26. . (Received February 27, at 1 p.m.) A Japanese Press report states that the Emperor has ordered troops to assume responsibility for the safety of life and- property in Tokio under the emergency regulations. The citizens were ordered to resume their normal business, • •■ CONFUSED SITUATION CUSH OF MILITARISTS AND MODERATES LONDON, February 2d\ (Received. February 27, at 1 p.m.) Though outwardly quiet, the ■ situation in Japan is inwardly confused. It is impossible to predict developments. The upheaval is described as purely internal, but it will be impossible to say until the air has cleared how the revolt will influence, Japan’s foreign policy, particularly her expansionist activities. The ‘ Sun-Herald ’ learns that the coup is the sequel to the clash' of militarists and moderates. The former have been primarily responsible for the conquest of Manchuria, the invasion of Northern China, and the attacks on Mongolia, besides big army and navy activities. The moderates, including the Elder Statesmen at the Foreign Office, have been a restraining influence, but the militarists have secured most of their demands.. The militarists insisted that Japan should progress in accordance with the original ideas of Japanese culture, being influenced by the West only to the extent of using the western world’s inventions, whereas the moderates sought political changes in consonance with western evolution. The struggle has not been confined to the army, but there has been intense national feeling for four years, culminI ating in tension during the Nagano assassination trial, and followed by the general elections, in which the swing to the Left did not please the militarists. , Yesterday’s coup was designed to frighten the populace and to enable the militarists tq : obtain greater power. The Press censorship continues, but it is understood that information from the British Embassy in, Tokio has been dispatched to the heads of the dominion Governments. THE PROVINCES QUIET AIM OF THE REVOLUTIONARIES EXPLAINED TOKIO, February 26. (Received February 27, at 1 p.m.) The nation’s bewilderment at the suddenness of the stroke was intensified by the resignation with the Cabinet of the Acting Prime Minister (Mr Fumio Goto), whose appointment immediately followed the assassination of the Prime Minister (Admiral Okada). The resignations, however, may be merely formal in order to enable the formation of a new Ministry. it is officially stated that calm has been restored and that there are no disturbances in the provinces. A laconic communique issued from the War Office states: “At 5 a.m. young officers attacked the residence of Admiral Okada, who was instantly killed, ‘also the residences of Mr Mokoto and of Baron Saito (Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal) and General Watanke (ex-inspector General of Military Education), both of whom were killed. Mr Korokiyo Takahashi, Finance Minister, and Admiral Kantaro Suzuki, Grand Chamberlain, were wounded. Count Makino (ex-Keeper of the Privy Seal) is missing, and is believed to have been wounded. The young officers rose in revolt and ordered the mobilisation of the Third Infantry Regiment, because, as they explained in a manifesto, they desired at this grave moment when the nation was menaced at home and abroad to root out traitors destroying Japan’s national structure, including the Elder ■Statesmen, the senior statesmen's bloc, the financiers’ bloc, a certain military bloc, and bureaucrats and politicians. By destroying these evil influences they hoped to enhance the glory of the na-

tional structure and promote the great cause of justice. The army in the capital in view of this was ordered to maintain extraordinary vigilance.” TH€ ASSASSIN'S TOLL LEASERS WHO HAVE FALLEN The record of assassinations during the ,last 80 years includes the deaths of over 100 Monarchs, Presidents, and Ministers of State, among the victims being:— - 1865. President Lincoln, United States. 1894.—President Carnot, France. 1900. —King Humbert of Italy. 1901. President M’Kinley, United States. 1903. —King Alexander and Queen Draga of Serbia. 1908.—King Carlos of Portugal. 1913. —King- George of* Greece. 1914. ---Archduke and- Archduchess of Austria 1918.—Count .Yon, Mirbach, German - Ambassador, to Russia. 1922. —Walter Rathenau, , German ' Foreign Minister; Michael Collins, Irish Free State Minister. v 1927.—Kevin 'O’Higgins,. Vice-president of the‘lrish Free State. , 1981.—Premier Hainaguchi. Japan. 1932.; —President Doumer, France ; Premier Inukai, Japan. 1934. —Chancellor Dollfuss, Austria ; King Alexander of Yugoslavia ; M. Barthou, French Foreign Minister. RECENT ASSASSINATIONS ' Since 1924 the chief political assassinations have been:— 1924. June 10.—Giacomo Matteotti. moderate Socialist leader in the Italian Parliament, kidnapped near Rome. Body found on August 15. 1925. February 13.—Professor Nicola Mileff. Bulgarian Minister-designate to the United States, killed at Sofia. 1926. . May , 25.—General Simon Petlura, ex-Presxdent of the Ukranian Republic, killed by a compatriot in Paris. 1927. , ' ' -' . . June 7.; —Peter Lazarevitch Viokoff, Soviet Russian Minister to Poland, shot at Warsaw by a Russian' monarchist July 10.—Kevin O’Higgins, Vice-pre-sident of the Irish Free State, shot neap Dublin. 1928. May 20.—General Luis Mena, exPresident of Nicaragua, shot at Poneloya by a countryman. ' Juno 20.—Stephan Raditch, leader of the Croatian Peasant Party; Paul Raditch, his nephew; and Dr George Basaritchik, shot at Belgrade. July 17.—Ex-President and Presidentelect General Alvaro Obregon, of Mexico, shot at San Angel by , Jose De Leon Torol, an artist and .religious fanatic.. .. ", • 1930. June 7.—Dr Albert Von Baligand, German Minister to Portugal, shot by a man from Danzig. . July 26.—J0a0 Pessoa, President of the Brazilian State of Parahyba, assassinated at Recife by a political foe. 1932. May 6.—At Paris, Paul Doumer, President of the Republic, shot, by a Russian exile,. Paul Gougploff, v : May 15. —'At. Tpkio, Ki Inukai, Japanese Premier, shot by army jingoists. ■■ , /; . 1933. February 15.—At Miami, attempt by Italian anarchist to shoot Franklin D. Roosevelt. President-elect. The bullet fatally wounded Anton J. Cermak, Mayor of Chicago. The anarchist was Joseph Zangara, who was electrocuted on March 20. f April 30.—Luis M. Sanchez ‘ Cerro, President of Peru, shot at Lima. June 6.—Assis Khan, elder brother of King Nadir, of Afghanistan, shot at Berlin by ah Afghan student., December 29.—Dr lan Duca. Premier of Rumania, killed at Sinaia, by a former university student, the assassin, declaring' himself an ardent disciple of Hitlerism. 1934. . • ;■ July 25.—Dr Engelbert Dollfuss, Chancellor _of Austria,-shot during a Nazi uprising by, Otto Planetta, a former soldier and chauffeur. October / .9.—King Alexander of Yugoslavia. and M, Barthou (French Foreign Minister) assassinate)! by Zagreb in Marseilles. .